Balancing flashcard review

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. The total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

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, ensuring that mass is conserved.

Front

Define polyatomic ion.

Back

A polyatomic ion is a charged species composed of two or more atoms covalently bonded, which can be treated as a single unit in chemical reactions.

Front

How do you determine the number of polyatomic ions in a compound?

Back

Count the number of distinct polyatomic ions present in the chemical formula. For example, in Fe3(PO4)2, there are 2 phosphate ions (PO4)^{3-}.

Front

What is the significance of coefficients in a chemical equation?

Back

Coefficients indicate the number of molecules or moles of each reactant and product involved in the reaction, helping to balance the equation.

Front

What is the formula for calculating the number of moles from mass?

Back

Number of moles = mass (g) / molar mass (g/mol). This formula is used to convert mass of a substance to moles.

Front

What is the role of water in chemical reactions?

Back

Water can act as a solvent, reactant, or product in chemical reactions, influencing the reaction environment and outcomes.

Front

What is a double displacement reaction?

Back

A double displacement reaction is a type of chemical reaction where two compounds exchange ions or bonds to form two new compounds.

Front

What is the formula for calculating the molar mass of a compound?

Back

Molar mass = sum of the atomic masses of all atoms in the chemical formula, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol).

Front

What is the difference between ionic and covalent bonds?

Back

Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, while covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms.