Balancing Chemical 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, reflecting the conservation of mass.

Front

What does the coefficient in a chemical equation represent?

Back

The coefficient indicates the number of molecules or moles of a substance involved in the reaction.

Front

What is a subscript in a chemical formula?

Back

A subscript indicates the number of atoms of an element in a molecule.

Front

What does the principle of conservation of mass state?

Back

Matter is not created or destroyed in a chemical reaction; the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

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.

Front

Why is it important to balance chemical equations?

Back

Balancing chemical equations ensures that the law of conservation of mass is obeyed and accurately represents the quantities of reactants and products.

Front

What does it mean if a molecule is diatomic?

Back

A diatomic molecule consists of two atoms of the same or different elements, such as O2 (oxygen) or H2 (hydrogen).

Front

How do you determine the number of atoms in a compound?

Back

Count the number of atoms for each element based on the subscripts in the chemical formula.

Front

What is the role of the arrow in a chemical equation?

Back

The arrow indicates the direction of the reaction, separating reactants from products.

Front

What is a monoatomic element?

Back

A monoatomic element consists of single atoms, such as noble gases like helium (He) or neon (Ne).