Balancing Equations

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

What does it mean for a chemical equation to be balanced?

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.

Front

How many oxygen atoms are in the compound 4H₂O?

Back

There are 4 oxygen atoms in 4H₂O.

Front

In the chemical formula C₆H₁₂O₆, how many hydrogen atoms are present?

Back

There are 12 hydrogen atoms in C₆H₁₂O₆.

Front

What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

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

Front

What is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

The purpose is to ensure that the law of conservation of mass is followed, meaning that the same number of each type of atom is present before and after the reaction.

Front

What is the difference between a reactant and a product in a chemical reaction?

Back

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

Front

What does the arrow (→) in a chemical equation represent?

Back

The arrow represents the direction of the reaction, indicating that reactants are transformed into products.

Front

How do you determine if a chemical equation is unbalanced?

Back

A chemical equation is unbalanced if the number of atoms of any element is different on the reactant side compared to the product side.

Front

What is the significance of the number in front of H₂O in a balanced equation?

Back

The number indicates how many molecules of water are produced or consumed in the reaction.