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 so that the number of atoms of 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; the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

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

What is a reactant?

Back

A reactant is a substance that undergoes a chemical change in a reaction, found on the left side of a chemical equation.

Front

What is a product?

Back

A product is a substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction, found on the right side of a chemical equation.

Front

How do you balance the equation K + B2O3 -> K2O + B?

Back

The balanced equation is 6K + B2O3 -> 3K2O + 2B.

Front

How do you balance the equation N2 + O2 -> N2O5?

Back

The balanced equation is 2N2 + 5O2 -> 2N2O5.

Front

Is the equation H3PO4 + KOH -> K3PO4 + H2O balanced?

Back

No, the equation is not balanced.