Chemical Equations Flashcards
What are chemical equations?
Fundamental representations of chemical reactions, showing how reactants transform into products.
What is an example of a chemical equation?
Methane + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water
How can chemical changes be shown?
Chemical changes can be shown using word equations or symbol equations.
What is a word equation?
A representation of a chemical reaction using words, showing reactants and products.
Why are symbol equations preferred over word equations?
Symbol equations are more concise and clearly show atomic balance on both sides.
What do symbol equations represent?
Symbol equations represent the symbols or formulas of the reactants and products in a reaction.
Example of a symbol equation?
2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO
What must be balanced in a chemical equation?
The number of atoms on both sides must be the same. Atoms cannot just disappear or appear out of nowhere.
How do you balance a chemical equation?
By adding numbers in front of the formulas where needed.
Can formulas be changed to balance equations?
No, you cannot change formulas like H₂O to H₂O₂. Only numbers in front of them can be adjusted.
Step 1 for balancing equations
Identify an element that doesn’t balance and pencil in a number to try balancing it.
Step 2 for balancing equations
See where the added number affects other elements, and adjust further if needed.
Step 3 for balancing equations
Continue adjusting unbalanced elements until the equation balances.
What adjustment is made in the example to balance H atoms?
The H₂O is changed to 2H₂O on the right side to balance the H atoms.
How is the equation H₂SO₄ + NaOH → Na₂SO₄ + H₂O balanced?
By adjusting NaOH to 2NaOH on the left side, balancing Na atoms as well.
