Balancing Equations Glossary

Catalyst a substance that increases the rate of reaction without being consumed in the overall reaction.
Combination reaction a reaction in which two substances combine to form a third substance
Combustion reaction a reaction of a substance with oxygen, usually with the rapid release of heat to produce a flame.
Chemical equation the symbolic representation of a chemical reaction in terms of the chemical formulas.
Decomposition reaction a reaction in which a single compound reacts to give two or more substances.
Displacement reaction (single-replacement reaction) a reaction in which an element reacts with a compound displacing an element from it
Metathesis reaction (double-replacement reaction) a reaction that appears to involve the exchange of parts of the reactants (when written as a molecular equation).
Precipitate a solid formed by a reaction in solution
Product a substance that results from a chemical reaction
Reactant a starting substance in a chemical reaction