Balancing 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, following the law of conservation of mass.

Front

What does the coefficient in a chemical equation represent?

Back

The coefficient indicates the number of molecules or moles of a substance involved in the reaction.

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 first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

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

Front

What is the law of conservation of mass?

Back

The law states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction; thus, the total mass of reactants must equal the total mass of products.

Front

Balance the equation: __KNO3 --> __KNO2 + __O2

Back

2, 2, 1

Front

Balance the equation: _CH4 + _O2 --> _CO2 + _H2O

Back

1, 2, 1, 2

Front

Balance the equation: __SnO2 + __H2 --> __Sn + __H2O

Back

1, 2, 1, 2

Front

Is the equation balanced? 2H2O + O2 --> 4MgO + 3Fe

Back

No

Front

Balance the equation: __Al + __HCl --> __H2 + __AlCl3

Back

2, 6, 3, 2