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 it mean to balance a chemical equation?

Back

To ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

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 a synthesis reaction?

Back

A type of reaction where two or more reactants combine to form a single product.

Front

What is a decomposition reaction?

Back

A type of reaction where a single compound breaks down into two or more simpler products.

Front

What is a single replacement reaction?

Back

A reaction where one element replaces another in a compound.

Front

What is a double replacement reaction?

Back

A reaction where the anions and cations of two different compounds exchange places to form two new compounds.

Front

How do you identify the coefficients in a balanced equation?

Back

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