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 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 balance a chemical equation?

Back

To balance a chemical equation, adjust the coefficients in front of the compounds to ensure that the number of atoms for each element is the same 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 does it mean if a chemical equation is unbalanced?

Back

An unbalanced chemical equation does not have the same number of each type of atom on both sides, indicating that the reaction does not conserve mass.

Front

Balance the equation: __C + __O₂ → __CO₂.

Back

1C + 1O₂ → 1CO₂.

Front

What is the balanced equation for the reaction of aluminum and oxygen?

Back

4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃.

Front

What is the balanced equation for the reaction of zinc and hydrochloric acid?

Back

Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂.

Front

How many hydrogen atoms are in H₂SO₄?

Back

There are 2 hydrogen atoms in H₂SO₄.

Front

What is the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in water (H₂O)?

Back

The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in water is 2:1.