Balancing Equations

Front

What is a balanced chemical equation?

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 during the reaction.

Front

What does the arrow in a chemical equation represent?

Back

The arrow indicates the direction of the reaction, showing that reactants are transformed into products.

Front

What are reactants in a chemical equation?

Back

Reactants are the starting substances that undergo a chemical change in a reaction.

Front

What are products in a chemical equation?

Back

Products are the substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

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; if they are equal, the equation is balanced.

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 moles of that substance are involved in the reaction.

Front

Balance the equation: _H2 + _O2 → _H2O

Back

2, 1, 2

Front

What is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

Balancing chemical equations ensures that the law of conservation of mass is followed, meaning matter is neither created nor destroyed.

Front

What does it mean if an equation is already balanced?

Back

It means that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation without needing any coefficients.

Front

Balance the equation: _P4 + _O2 → _P2O3

Back

1, 3, 2