Balancing Chemical Equations

Front

What is a balanced chemical equation?

Back

A balanced chemical equation has the same number 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 purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

Balancing chemical equations ensures that the same amount of each element is present before and after the reaction, reflecting the conservation of mass.

Front

What does it mean to 'balance' an equation?

Back

To balance an equation means to adjust the coefficients of the reactants and products so that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides.

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

The first step is to write down the unbalanced equation and count the number of atoms of each element on both sides.

Front

What is a reactant in a chemical reaction?

Back

A reactant is a substance that undergoes a change during a chemical reaction, found on the left side of a chemical equation.

Front

What is a product in a chemical reaction?

Back

A product is a substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction, found on the right side of a chemical equation.

Front

What is the significance of the coefficients in the equation @@ ext{Ca} + ext{CuF}_2 ightarrow ext{CaF}_2 + ext{Cu}@@?

Back

The coefficients indicate the ratio of moles of each reactant and product involved in the reaction, showing that one mole of calcium reacts with one mole of copper(II) fluoride.