Overview of Chemical Equations and Balancing

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to chemical equations and the process of balancing them.

Chemical equation

A symbolic representation of a chemical reaction using chemical formulas.

Reactant

The starting material (SM) that undergoes change in a chemical reaction.

Product

The substance that results from a chemical reaction.

Common states of matter

Denoted as (g) for gas, (l) for liquid, (s) for solid, and (aq) for aqueous solution.

Gas evolution

Indicated by ‐ in the course of a reaction.

Precipitation

Solid formed from a solution, indicated by ¯ in a chemical reaction.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up the reaction without undergoing overall change itself.

Reaction conditions

Specific factors like temperature, pressure, solvent, and reaction time that affect the reaction.

Coefficient

The number placed before a substance formula in an equation, indicating the relative mole amount.

Balanced equation

An equation where the total number of atoms for each element is equal on both sides.

Balancing method - Inspection

A technique that uses trial-and-error to balance equations by starting with atoms in only one substance per side.

Balancing method - Half-reactions

A method that works well for complex redox reactions.

Example of a balanced reaction

Fe2O3 (s) + CO (g) → Fe (s) + CO2 (g)