Balancing Chemical Equations

Front

What is a balanced chemical equation?

Back

A balanced chemical equation has equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the equation, indicating that mass is conserved during the reaction.

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 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 the 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 in the reaction.

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

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

Front

What does it mean to balance a chemical equation?

Back

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

Front

What is the significance of subscripts in a chemical formula?

Back

Subscripts indicate the number of atoms of each element in a molecule. Changing a subscript changes the substance.

Front

What is the difference between a reactant and a product?

Back

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

Front

How do you balance the equation: @@Ca + CuF_2 ightarrow CaF_2 + Cu@@?

Back

The equation is already balanced as there is 1 Ca, 2 F, and 1 Cu on both sides.

Front

What is the balanced equation for the reaction of ammonium phosphate and lead(IV) nitrate?

Back

The balanced equation is @@4(NH_4)_3PO_4 + 3Pb(NO_3)_4 ightarrow Pb_3(PO_4)_4 + 12NH_4NO_3@@.