Chapter 7 Flashcards
What is a chemical reaction?
A process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.
What is a reactant in a chemical reaction?
A substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction.
What is a product in a chemical reaction?
A substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction.
True or False: In a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants is always equal to the total mass of the products.
True
What is a chemical equation?
A symbolic representation of a chemical reaction using chemical formulas.
What is the Law of Conservation of Mass in chemical reactions?
The total mass of the reactants must be equal to the total mass of the products.
What does it mean to balance a chemical equation?
Adjusting the coefficients of the reactants and products to ensure the Law of Conservation of Mass is obeyed.
Why is it important to balance chemical equations?
To accurately represent the quantities of reactants and products involved in a chemical reaction.
What are coefficients in a chemical equation?
Numbers placed in front of the chemical formulas to balance the equation.
What is a skeleton equation?
A chemical equation that is not balanced.
In a balanced chemical equation, what must be equal on both sides of the equation?
The number of atoms of each element.
What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?
Write down the unbalanced equation.
What is the second step in balancing a chemical equation?
Identify the elements in the equation and make a list of the number of atoms of each element on both sides.
What is the third step in balancing a chemical equation?
Start balancing the equation by adjusting the coefficients of the compounds.
What is the fourth step in balancing a chemical equation?
Check to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.
