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 determine the coefficients in a chemical equation?

Back

Coefficients are determined by adjusting the numbers in front of the compounds to ensure that the number of atoms for each element is equal on both sides of the equation.

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

The first step is to write down the unbalanced equation and count the number of atoms of each element on both sides.

Front

What does it mean to balance an equation?

Back

To balance an equation means to adjust the coefficients so that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Front

What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

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

Front

What is the significance 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 do you balance the equation PCl5 + H2O → HCl + H3PO4?

Back

The balanced equation is 4 PCl5 + 5 H2O → 12 HCl + 1 H3PO4.

Front

What is the balanced form of SnO2 + H2 → Sn + H2O?

Back

The balanced equation is 1 SnO2 + 2 H2 → 1 Sn + 2 H2O.

Front

How do you balance the equation Mg + HCl → MgCl2 + H2?

Back

The balanced equation is 1 Mg + 2 HCl → 1 MgCl2 + 1 H2.