Balancing Equations

Front

What is a balanced chemical equation?

Back

A balanced chemical equation has equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the equation, following the law of conservation of mass.

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

How do you balance a chemical equation?

Back

To balance a chemical equation, adjust the coefficients of the reactants and products to ensure the same number of each type of atom 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 does it mean if a chemical equation is already balanced?

Back

If a chemical equation is already balanced, it means that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Front

Balance the equation: @@ ext{______CH}_4 + ext{______O}_2 ightarrow ext{______CO}_2 + ext{______H}_2 ext{O}@@

Back

1, 2, 1, 2

Front

Balance the equation: @@ ext{______H}_2 ext{SO}_3 + ext{______KOH} ightarrow ext{______H}_2 ext{O} + ext{______K}_2 ext{SO}_3@@

Back

1, 2, 2, 1

Front

Balance the equation: @@ ext{______Mg} + ext{______Cl}_2 ightarrow ext{______MgCl}_2@@

Back

Already balanced

Front

Balance the equation: @@ ext{______Al} + ext{______FeO} ightarrow ext{______Al}_2 ext{O}_2 + ext{______Fe}@@

Back

2, 2, 1, 2

Front

Balance the equation: @@ ext{______CF}_4 + ext{______Br}_2 ightarrow ext{______CBr}_4 + ext{______F}_2@@

Back

1, 2, 1, 2