All Flashcards
What happens if a chemical equation is not balanced?
Calculations based on the equation will be incorrect, leading to inaccurate results in stoichiometry and other quantitative analyses.
What is the effect of balancing a chemical equation?
It ensures that the equation accurately represents the conservation of mass, allowing for correct stoichiometric calculations and predictions of reaction outcomes.
Define Law of Conservation of Mass.
Matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction; the number of atoms of each element must be the the same on both sides of the equation.
What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?
A number placed in front of a chemical formula in a chemical equation to indicate how many molecules or moles of that substance are involved in the reaction.
What is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?
To ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation, adhering to the Law of Conservation of Mass.
What is the difference between changing coefficients and subscripts in chemical equations?
Coefficients change the amount of a substance; subscripts change the identity of the compound.