Balancing Chemical Equations

Front

What is a chemical equation?

Back

A representation of a chemical reaction using symbols and formulas to show the reactants and products.

Front

What are reactants in a chemical equation?

Back

Substances that undergo a chemical change in a reaction, found on the left side of the equation.

Front

What are products in a chemical equation?

Back

Substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction, found on the right side of the equation.

Front

What does the arrow in a chemical equation represent?

Back

It indicates the direction of the reaction, separating reactants from products.

Front

What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

A number placed in front of a compound to indicate how many molecules or moles are involved in the reaction.

Front

What is a subscript in a chemical formula?

Back

A small number written after an element symbol that indicates the number of atoms of that element in a molecule.

Front

How do you balance a chemical equation?

Back

By adjusting the coefficients of the reactants and products to ensure the same number of each type of atom on both sides.

Front

What is the law of conservation of mass?

Back

In a chemical reaction, mass is neither created nor destroyed; the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

Front

What is the balanced equation for the reaction of carbon tetrafluoride and bromine?

Back

CF4 + 2Br2 → CBr4 + 2F2.

Front

What is the balanced equation for the reaction of tin(IV) oxide and hydrogen?

Back

SnO2 + 2H2 → Sn + 2H2O.