Atoms in Chemical Reactions Flashcard

Front

What is a balanced chemical equation?

Back

A balanced chemical equation has an equal number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.

Front

What does it mean if a chemical equation is unbalanced?

Back

In an unbalanced chemical equation, the number of atoms for each element is not equal for the reactants and products.

Front

What is a coefficient in a chemical formula?

Back

A coefficient is a number placed in front of a chemical formula that indicates the number of molecules of that substance.

Front

What is a subscript in a chemical formula?

Back

A subscript is a number written below and to the right of a chemical symbol that indicates the number of atoms of that element in a molecule.

Front

How do you determine the number of molecules in a chemical formula?

Back

You determine the number of molecules by looking at the coefficient in front of the formula.

Front

What is the significance of the law of conservation of mass in chemical reactions?

Back

The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction, meaning the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

Front

What is a reactant in a chemical reaction?

Back

A reactant is a substance that undergoes change during a chemical reaction.

Front

What is a product in a chemical reaction?

Back

A product is a substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

Front

What does it mean to balance a chemical equation?

Back

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

Front

What is the difference between an element and a compound?

Back

An element is a pure substance made of only one type of atom, while a compound is made of two or more different types of atoms chemically bonded together.