Balancing Chemical 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, indicating that mass is conserved during a chemical reaction.

Front

What are reactants in a chemical equation?

Back

Reactants are the 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

Products are the substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction, found on the right side of the equation.

Front

What does the law of conservation of mass state?

Back

The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction; the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

Front

How do you balance a chemical equation?

Back

To balance a chemical equation, adjust the coefficients of the reactants and products to ensure the same number of each type of atom on both sides.

Front

What is a 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.

Front

What is a subscript in a chemical formula?

Back

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

Front

Balance the equation: Al + HCl → H2 + AlCl3

Back

2 Al + 6 HCl → 3 H2 + 2 AlCl3

Front

Balance the equation: SnO2 + H2 → Sn + H2O

Back

1 SnO2 + 2 H2 → 1 Sn + 2 H2O

Front

Balance the equation: P4 + O2 → P2O3

Back

1 P4 + 3 O2 → 2 P2O3