Balancing Chemical Equations

Front

What is a chemical equation?

Back

A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a chemical reaction, showing the reactants and products along with their quantities.

Front

What does it mean to balance a chemical equation?

Back

Balancing a chemical equation means ensuring that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Front

What are coefficients in a chemical equation?

Back

Coefficients are the numbers placed in front of the compounds in a chemical equation to indicate the number of molecules or moles of that substance.

Front

How do you determine if a chemical equation is balanced?

Back

A chemical equation is balanced if the number of atoms of each element is equal on both sides of the equation.

Front

What is the law of conservation of mass?

Back

The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor 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

The first step in balancing a chemical equation is to write down the unbalanced equation and count the number of atoms of each element.

Front

What is the role of subscripts in a chemical formula?

Back

Subscripts indicate the number of atoms of each element in a molecule; they cannot be changed when balancing equations.

Front

What is a common method for balancing chemical equations?

Back

A common method for balancing chemical equations is the trial and error method, adjusting coefficients until the equation is balanced.

Front

What does it mean if an equation is unbalanced?

Back

An unbalanced equation indicates that the number of atoms of at least one element is not equal on both sides of the equation.

Front

How do you balance the equation: H2 + O2 → H2O?

Back

The balanced equation is 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O, using coefficients to ensure equal numbers of H and O atoms.