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 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 the coefficients in a balanced equation?

Back

Coefficients are determined by adjusting the numbers in front of the chemical formulas to ensure that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

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

Front

What does it mean to balance an equation?

Back

Balancing an equation means adjusting the coefficients so that 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

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 significance of the subscripts in a chemical formula?

Back

Subscripts indicate the number of atoms of each element in a molecule; they cannot be changed when balancing equations.

Front

What is the balanced equation for the decomposition of sodium chlorate (NaClO3)?

Back

2NaClO3 → 2NaCl + 3O2.

Front

How do you balance the equation: Si(OH)4 + NaBr → SiBr4 + NaOH?

Back

The balanced equation is Si(OH)4 + 4NaBr → SiBr4 + 4NaOH.

Front

What is the balanced equation for the reaction of lithium and chlorine?

Back

2Li + Cl2 → 2LiCl.