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 reactants in a chemical equation?

Back

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

Front

What are products in a chemical equation?

Back

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

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 is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

A coefficient is a number placed in front of a chemical formula to indicate how many molecules or moles of that substance are involved in the reaction.

Front

Balance the equation: _H2 + _O2 -> _H2O

Back

2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O

Front

What is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

Balancing chemical equations ensures that the same number of atoms of each element are present on both sides, reflecting the conservation of mass.

Front

How many atoms of oxygen are in the balanced equation: 2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O?

Back

There are 2 atoms of oxygen on the left side and 2 atoms of oxygen on the right side.

Front

What is a skeleton equation?

Back

A skeleton equation is a chemical equation that shows the reactants and products but not the coefficients needed to balance it.