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 the 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 it mean to balance a chemical equation?

Back

Balancing a chemical equation means adjusting the coefficients of the reactants and products to ensure that the same number of each type of atom appears on both sides.

Front

What is the law of conservation of mass?

Back

The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction; it is conserved.

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

How do you balance the equation: _Mg + _O2 → _MgO?

Back

The balanced equation is 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO.

Front

What type of reaction is represented by Zn + H2S → ZnS + H2?

Back

This is a single replacement reaction, where one element replaces another in a compound.

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

The first step is to write down the number of atoms of each element present in the reactants and products.

Front

What is the difference between a synthesis reaction and a decomposition reaction?

Back

A synthesis reaction combines two or more substances to form a new compound, while a decomposition reaction breaks down a compound into simpler substances.