Balancing Equations Flashcard

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 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

How do you balance the equation: C + O₂ → CO₂?

Back

The balanced equation is: 1C + 1O₂ → 1CO₂.

Front

What is the product side of a chemical equation?

Back

The product side is the right side of the equation, where the products of the reaction are listed after the yields sign (→).

Front

What does it mean to balance an equation?

Back

To balance an equation means to adjust the coefficients so that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Front

What is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

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

Front

Balance the equation: Al + O₂ → Al₂O₃.

Back

The balanced equation is: 4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃.

Front

What is the difference between reactants and products?

Back

Reactants are the starting substances in a chemical reaction, while products are the substances formed as a result of the reaction.

Front

What is the significance of subscripts in a chemical formula?

Back

Subscripts indicate the number of atoms of each element in a molecule; they cannot be changed when balancing equations.

Front

How do you identify the limiting reactant in a reaction?

Back

The limiting reactant is the substance that is completely consumed first, limiting the amount of product formed.