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 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 the law of conservation of mass state?

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 if a chemical equation is balanced?

Back

Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation. If they are equal, the equation is balanced.

Front

What is the significance of coefficients in a chemical equation?

Back

Coefficients indicate the number of molecules or moles of a substance involved in the reaction and are used to balance the equation.

Front

What is the role of 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

How many atoms are in H2SO4?

Back

There are 7 atoms in H2SO4 (2 H, 1 S, 4 O).

Front

What is the balanced equation for the reaction of PCl5 with H2O?

Back

PCl5 + 4 H2O → 5 HCl + H3PO4.

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

Identify the number of atoms of each element in the reactants and products.