Balancing Chemical 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 is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

The purpose is to ensure that the law of conservation of mass is obeyed, meaning that the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

Front

What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

A coefficient is a number placed in front of a chemical formula to indicate how many molecules or moles of that substance are involved in the reaction.

Front

What is a subscript in a chemical formula?

Back

A subscript is a small number written after an element symbol that indicates the number of atoms of that element in a molecule.

Front

How do you balance the equation P4 + O2 → P2O3?

Back

The balanced equation is P4 + 3 O2 → 2 P2O3.

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

The first step is to write the unbalanced equation and count the number of atoms of each element on both sides.

Front

What does it mean if an equation is unbalanced?

Back

An unbalanced equation does not have the same number of each type of atom on both sides, indicating that mass is not conserved.

Front

How do you balance the equation Mg + O2 → MgO?

Back

The balanced equation is 2 Mg + O2 → 2 MgO.

Front

What is the balanced form of Zn + HCl → ZnCl2 + H2?

Back

The balanced equation is Zn + 2 HCl → ZnCl2 + H2.

Front

What is the balanced form of H2 + O2 → H2O?

Back

The balanced equation is 2 H2 + O2 → 2 H2O.