Balancing chemical reactions

Front

What is a balanced chemical equation?

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A balanced chemical equation has the same number of each type of atom on both the reactant and product sides, indicating that mass is conserved during the reaction.

Front

What are reactants in a chemical reaction?

Back

Reactants are the starting substances that undergo a chemical change in a reaction.

Front

What are products in a chemical reaction?

Back

Products are the substances that are formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

Front

What does it mean when a reaction is described as exothermic?

Back

An exothermic reaction is one that releases energy, usually in the form of heat, to the surroundings.

Front

What does it mean when a reaction is described as endothermic?

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An endothermic reaction is one that absorbs energy from the surroundings, usually in the form of heat.

Front

What is a precipitate in a chemical reaction?

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A precipitate is an insoluble solid that forms when two solutions are mixed and a reaction occurs.

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How can you tell if a chemical change has occurred?

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Signs of a chemical change include color change, temperature change, gas production, and the formation of a precipitate.

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What is the law of conservation of mass?

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The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction; it is conserved.

Front

What is the role of coefficients in a chemical equation?

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Coefficients are numbers placed before compounds in a chemical equation to indicate the number of molecules or moles of that substance.

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What is the difference between a physical change and a chemical change?

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A physical change alters the form of a substance but not its chemical composition, while a chemical change results in the formation of new substances.