Balancing Chemical Equations Basics

Front

Law of Conservation of Mass

Back

Mass is neither created nor destroyed.

Front

Reactants

Back

Substances before the reaction

Front

Products

Back

Substances after the reaction

Front

Coefficient

Back

Number before a molecule

Front

Subscript

Back

Number within a molecule

Front

Balanced Equation

Back

Equal number of atoms on both sides

Front

Unbalanced Equation

Back

Unequal atoms on both sides

Front

Steps to Balance

Back

Write, count, adjust, check.

Front

H₂ + O₂ -> H₂O

Back

Unbalanced equation example

Front

2H₂ + O₂ -> 2H₂O

Back

Balanced equation example