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

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 cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction; it can only change forms.

Front

What does it mean to balance a chemical equation?

Back

Balancing a chemical equation means adjusting the coefficients in front of the reactants and products to ensure that the same number of each type of atom appears on both sides.

Front

What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

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

Front

What is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

The purpose is to ensure that the reaction obeys the law of conservation of mass, showing that the same amount of matter is present before and after the reaction.

Front

Example of a balanced equation: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O. What does this indicate?

Back

This indicates that two molecules of hydrogen react with one molecule of oxygen to produce two molecules of water, with all atoms accounted for.

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

The first step is to write down the unbalanced equation and count the number of atoms of each element on both sides.

Front

What is the significance of the subscripts in a chemical formula?

Back

Subscripts indicate the number of atoms of each element in a molecule; they cannot be changed when balancing equations.

Front

What is the difference between a reactant and a product?

Back

Reactants are substances that undergo a chemical change, while products are the substances formed as a result of the reaction.