Balancing Chemical Reactions

Front

What is a balanced chemical equation?

Back

A balanced chemical equation has equal numbers 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 compounds in a chemical equation to indicate the number of molecules or moles of that substance involved in the reaction.

Front

How do you determine the coefficients needed to balance a chemical equation?

Back

To balance a chemical equation, adjust the coefficients of the reactants and products until the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides.

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 a skeleton equation?

Back

A skeleton equation is a chemical equation that shows the reactants and products in their chemical formulas but does not indicate the relative amounts of each substance.

Front

How many atoms of hydrogen are in the formula C₃H₈?

Back

There are 8 atoms of hydrogen in the formula C₃H₈.

Front

What is the product of the reaction between sodium and chlorine?

Back

The product of the reaction between sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl₂) is sodium chloride (NaCl).

Front

What does it mean for a reaction to be already balanced?

Back

A reaction is already balanced when the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation without needing to adjust coefficients.

Front

What are the coefficients that balance the equation N₂ + H₂ → NH₃?

Back

The coefficients that balance the equation are 1, 3, 2.

Front

How do you identify the limiting reactant in a chemical reaction?

Back

The limiting reactant is the substance that is completely consumed first in a chemical reaction, limiting the amount of product formed.