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; 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: __C + __O₂ → __CO₂.

Back

1, 1, 1

Front

Balance the equation: __Fe + __O₂ → __Fe₂O₃.

Back

4, 3, 2

Front

What is the balanced form of the equation: __H₂ + __O₂ → __H₂O?

Back

2, 1, 2

Front

What is the balanced form of the equation: __Na + __Cl₂ → __NaCl?

Back

2, 1, 2

Front

What is the balanced form of the equation: __Al + __O₂ → __Al₂O₃?

Back

4, 3, 2