Balancing Chemical Equations

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to balancing chemical equations, including rules, definitions, and terminology.

Diatomic molecules

Molecules that exist as pairs of the same atom, such as H2, O2, F2, Br2, I2, N2, and Cl2.

Coefficients

Numbers placed in front of compounds in a chemical equation to indicate the number of units of each substance involved.

Skeletal equation

An unbalanced equation that shows the reactants and products of a chemical reaction.

Atom types

Different kinds of atoms present in a chemical equation, which must be balanced on both the reactant and product sides.

Balancing Rule

A guideline stating that hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) should typically be balanced last in a chemical equation.

Lowest terms

The simplification of coefficients in a balanced equation so that they are in their smallest whole number ratio.

Reactants

Substances that are consumed during a chemical reaction, appearing on the left side of a chemical equation.

Products

Substances that are formed from a chemical reaction, appearing on the right side of a chemical equation.

Reactant side

The left side of a chemical equation where the initial substances are listed before the reaction takes place.

Product side

The right side of a chemical equation where the substances produced by the reaction are listed.