Balancing Equations

Front

What is a chemical equation?

Back

A representation of a chemical reaction that shows the reactants and products, including their quantities.

Front

What are reactants in a chemical equation?

Back

Substances that undergo a chemical change in a reaction, found on the left side of the equation.

Front

What are products in a chemical equation?

Back

Substances that are formed as a result of a chemical reaction, found on the right side of the equation.

Front

How do you determine the number of atoms in a compound like C6H12O6?

Back

By adding the subscripts of each element: 6 (C) + 12 (H) + 6 (O) = 24 total atoms.

Front

What is the law of conservation of mass?

Back

In a chemical reaction, mass is neither created nor destroyed; the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

Front

How do you balance a chemical equation?

Back

By adjusting the coefficients in front of the compounds to ensure the same number of each type of atom on both sides.

Front

What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

A number placed in front of a compound to indicate how many molecules or moles of that compound are involved in the reaction.

Front

What does it mean to balance an equation?

Back

To make sure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Front

What is the balanced equation for the combustion of methane (CH4)?

Back

CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O.

Front

What is the balanced equation for the reaction of carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) with bromine (Br2)?

Back

CF4 + 2Br2 → CBr4 + 2F2.