Balancing Chemical Equations

Types of Reactions

100

This type of reaction is where a hydrocarbon burns or explodes in the presence of oxygen, creating as a product carbon dioxide and water vapor.

What is combustion?

200

This type of rxn is where one compound breaks down into two or more simpler elements or compounds.

What is decomposition?

300

This type of rxn is where two elements chemically combine to form one new compound.

What is synthesis?

400

This type of rxn usually results in the formation of a precipitate. It is where one metal swaps his nonmetal with another metal's nonmetal.

What is double replacement?

500

This type of rxn is where a more reactive element replaces a less reactive element in a compound. In analogy, it is where one element steals another element's girl, sending him home alone.

What is single replacement?

Miscellaneous

100

The process by which the atoms of one or more substances are rearranged to form different substances

What is a chemical reaction?

200

These are used to show the physical states of the reactants and products. 

What are symbols (s, l, g, aq)?

300

A statement that uses chemical formulas to show the identities and relative amounts of the substances.

What is a chemical equation?

400

The first step in writing a balanced equation.

What is a skeleton equation?

500

In the chemical equation, these are written in front of a reactant or product.

What is a coefficient?

Rxn Vocabulary

100

This is found on the left side of the yields sign. In other words, what goes in to the reaction.

What is the reactant?

200

This sign indicates the direction of the reaction, and separates reactants from products.

What is the yields sign OR the arrow?

300

This is found on the POINTY side of the arrow. It is the end result of a chemical reaction.

What is the product?

400

This best explains the definition of the term coefficient.

What is the number of molecules of a given substance?

500

This best explains the term subscript.

What is the small number that denotes the number of atoms of each element within a compound?

How to Balance Equations

100

This is the first step in balancing any chemical equation.

What is to list and count the elements present on each side of the arrow?

200

When balancing a chemical equation, you are able to add or change these.

What are coefficients?

300

Within a chemical formula, if you don't see a subscript, you can deduce that there are this many atoms of that element within each molecule.

What is one?

400

Once the number of atoms of each element balances on each side of the yields sign, this is the final step in balancing all equations.

What is to simplify the equation?

500

Probably the most fundamental concept of chemistry.

What is the law of conservation of mass?

Definitions

100

A solid produced during a chemical reaction. 

What is a precipitate?

200

Contains one or more substances called solutes dissolved in water or an acid.

What is an aqueous solution?

300

This is the most used solvent?

What is water?

400

Evidence that a chemical reaction has taken place.

What is production of gas, smell, color change, temperature change?

500

This tells you that something has been produced or decomposed.

What is an arrow?