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 it mean to balance an equation?

Back

Balancing an equation means adjusting the coefficients of the reactants and products to ensure that the number of atoms for each element is equal on both sides.

Front

What is the law of conservation of mass?

Back

The law of conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction; it can only change forms.

Front

How do you determine if an 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 in an equation to indicate how many molecules or moles of that substance are involved.

Front

Balance the equation: _Mg + _Cl2 --> _MgCl2

Back

1, 1, 1 (already balanced)

Front

Balance the equation: _N2 + _H2 --> _NH3

Back

1, 3, 2

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

Identify the number of atoms of each element in the reactants and products.

Front

Balance the equation: FeS + 2HCl --> FeCl2 + H2O

Back

None of these (the equation is not balanced as written).

Front

What is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

The purpose is to ensure that the same amount of each element is present before and after the reaction, reflecting the conservation of mass.