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 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 yield sign.

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 yield sign.

Front

What does the yield sign (→) indicate in a chemical equation?

Back

The yield sign indicates the direction of the reaction, showing that reactants are transformed into products.

Front

How do you determine the number of atoms in a molecule?

Back

Count the number of each type of atom present, considering subscripts that indicate the number of atoms of each element.

Front

What is the purpose of balancing a chemical equation?

Back

The purpose is to ensure that the law of conservation of mass is followed, meaning the same number of each type of atom is present before and after the reaction.

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

How many hydrogen atoms are in H₂O?

Back

There are 2 hydrogen atoms in one molecule of water (H₂O).

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

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

Front

What does it mean if an equation is unbalanced?

Back

An unbalanced equation does not have the same number of each type of atom on both sides, violating the law of conservation of mass.