Balancing Equations

Front

What is a balanced chemical equation?

Back

A balanced chemical equation has the same number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation, indicating that mass is conserved during a chemical reaction.

Front

What does the coefficient in a chemical equation represent?

Back

The coefficient indicates the number of molecules or moles of a substance involved in the reaction.

Front

How do you determine if a chemical equation is balanced?

Back

Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation. If they are equal, the equation is balanced.

Front

What is the law of conservation of mass?

Back

The law states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction; the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

Identify the number of atoms of each element in the reactants and products.

Front

Balance the equation: _Al + _HCl → _H₂ + _AlCl₃

Back

2, 6, 3, 2

Front

Balance the equation: PCl₅ + ___ H₂O → ___ HCl + H₃PO₄

Back

4, 5

Front

Balance the equation: __ Al + __ FeO → Al₂O₂ + __ Fe

Back

2, 2, 2

Front

What is the significance of subscripts in a chemical formula?

Back

Subscripts indicate the number of atoms of each element in a molecule. For example, in H₂O, the '2' indicates there are two hydrogen atoms.

Front

What is a reactant in a chemical reaction?

Back

A reactant is a substance that undergoes change during a chemical reaction.