Balancing 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 an unbalanced chemical equation?

Back

An unbalanced chemical equation does not have the same number of each type of atom on both sides, meaning that mass is not conserved.

Front

What is the product side of a chemical equation?

Back

The product side is the right side of the equation, where the products of the reaction are listed after the yields sign (→).

Front

What is the reactant side of a chemical equation?

Back

The reactant side is the left side of the equation, where the reactants are listed before the yields sign (→).

Front

What does the law of conservation of mass state?

Back

The law of conservation of mass states that in a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products.

Front

How do you balance the equation P4 + O2 → P2O3?

Back

The balanced equation is P4 + 3 O2 → 2 P2O3.

Front

What is the coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

A coefficient is a number placed in front of a compound in a chemical equation to indicate how many molecules or moles of that compound are involved in the reaction.

Front

What is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

The purpose of balancing chemical equations is to ensure that the same number of atoms of each element is present on both sides of the equation, reflecting the conservation of mass.

Front

What does it mean if a chemical equation is not balanced?

Back

If a chemical equation is not balanced, it means that the reaction does not conserve mass, which is a fundamental principle of chemistry.

Front

What is an example of a balanced equation?

Back

An example of a balanced equation is 2 H2 + O2 → 2 H2O.