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 the reaction.

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 each 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 of conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction; it can only change forms.

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

What does it mean to balance an equation?

Back

To balance an equation means to adjust the coefficients so that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Front

What is the sum of coefficients in a balanced equation?

Back

The sum of coefficients is the total number of molecules or moles of all reactants and products in a balanced chemical equation.

Front

How do you balance the equation C3H8 + O2 → CO2 + H2O?

Back

The balanced equation is C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O, with coefficients 1, 5, 3, and 4.

Front

What is the significance of the coefficients in a balanced equation?

Back

Coefficients indicate the relative amounts of reactants and products involved in the reaction, allowing for stoichiometric calculations.

Front

What is an unbalanced equation?

Back

An unbalanced equation has different numbers of atoms for one or more elements on each side, violating the law of conservation of mass.