Balancing Equations

Front

What is a balanced equation?

Back

A balanced equation has the same number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation, indicating that mass is conserved during a chemical reaction.

Front

What is an unbalanced equation?

Back

An unbalanced equation does not have the same number of each type of atom on both sides, meaning that mass is not conserved.

Front

Identify the product side of a chemical equation.

Back

The product side is the right side of the equation, after the yields sign (→).

Front

What does the coefficient in a chemical equation represent?

Back

The coefficient indicates the number of molecules or moles of a substance involved in the reaction.

Front

Balance the equation: _N₂ + _H₂ → _NH₃

Back

1, 3, 2

Front

How many atoms of hydrogen are in the balanced equation 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O?

Back

4 hydrogen atoms.

Front

What is the law of conservation of mass?

Back

The law 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 reactant in a chemical equation?

Back

A reactant is a substance that undergoes a change during a chemical reaction, found on the left side of the equation.

Front

What is a product in a chemical equation?

Back

A product is a substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction, found on the right side of the equation.

Front

How do you determine if an 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.