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 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 in the reaction.

Front

What is a subscript in a chemical formula?

Back

A subscript is a small number written to the right of an element symbol that indicates the number of atoms of that element in a molecule.

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 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

What does it mean to balance a chemical equation?

Back

To balance a chemical equation means to adjust the coefficients so that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Front

What is the product in a chemical reaction?

Back

The product is a substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

Front

What is a reactant in a chemical equation?

Back

A reactant is a substance that undergoes change during a chemical reaction.

Front

How many oxygen atoms are in 2H2O?

Back

There are 2 oxygen atoms in 2H2O.

Front

What is the balanced equation for the combustion of propane (C3H8)?

Back

The balanced equation is C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O.