Balancing chemical equations

Front

What is the little number after an element in a chemical equation called?

Back

Subscript

Front

What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

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

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.

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 and compare them.

Front

What is the total number of atoms in the compound 5Na3PO4?

Back

40

Front

How many oxygen atoms are in the compound 2MnO4?

Back

8 (2 MnO4 has 4 oxygen atoms each, so 2 x 4 = 8).

Front

What is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

To ensure that the law of conservation of mass is obeyed, meaning matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the difference between a subscript and a coefficient?

Back

A subscript indicates the number of atoms of an element in a molecule, while a coefficient indicates the number of molecules.

Front

Is the equation 2C2H2 + 5O2 -> 4CO2 + 2H2O balanced?

Back

YES

Front

Is the equation NaHCO3 -> Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2 balanced?

Back

NO