Balancing Equations

Front

What is the Law of Conservation of Mass?

Back

Matter cannot be gained or lost in a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the total mass of the reactants compared to the total mass of the products at the end of a chemical reaction?

Back

The mass is the same.

Front

What does it mean for a chemical equation to be balanced?

Back

The number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Front

What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

The large number to the left of a formula.

Front

How do you balance the equation Al2O3 --> Al + O2?

Back

2Al2O3 --> 4Al + 3O2.

Front

What is a reactant in a chemical reaction?

Back

A substance that undergoes change during a chemical reaction.

Front

What is a product in a chemical reaction?

Back

A substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

To ensure that the Law of Conservation of Mass is obeyed.

Front

What happens if a chemical equation is not balanced?

Back

It does not accurately represent the conservation of mass.

Front

What is the difference between a chemical equation and a balanced chemical equation?

Back

A chemical equation shows the reactants and products, while a balanced equation has equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides.