Parts of Chemical Equations & Balancing

Front

What is a chemical equation?

Back

A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a chemical reaction, showing the reactants and products along with their quantities.

Front

What are reactants in a chemical equation?

Back

Reactants are the starting substances in a chemical reaction, found on the left side of the equation.

Front

What are products in a chemical equation?

Back

Products are the substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction, found on the right side of the equation.

Front

What do coefficients in a chemical equation represent?

Back

Coefficients are numbers placed before the compounds in a chemical equation to indicate the number of molecules or moles of each substance involved in the reaction.

Front

How do you balance a chemical equation?

Back

To balance a chemical equation, adjust the coefficients to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Front

What is the law of conservation of mass?

Back

The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction; the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

Front

What is the balanced equation for the reaction of aluminum and oxygen?

Back

4Al + 3O2 -> 2Al2O3.

Front

What is the balanced equation for the reaction of calcium and water?

Back

Ca + 2H2O -> Ca(OH)2 + H2.

Front

How many elements are in the compound C6H12O6?

Back

There are 3 different elements: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), and Oxygen (O).

Front

What is a skeleton equation?

Back

A skeleton equation is a chemical equation that shows the reactants and products but not the coefficients needed to balance it.