charge balance
What charge balance means in Chemistry A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of charge balance
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Reference: AQA
Electrons are added until the charge on each side is equal, and a half-equation must balance for atoms and for total charge.
In an ionic equation the total charge on the left must equal the total charge on the right.
One 1⁺ ion plus one 1⁻ ion gives a neutral product, so the charges balance.
Topics that use charge balance
- Balanced equations and associated calculations (AQA A-Level)
- Electrode potentials and cells (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Acids (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- indicator choice
- Acid–base titration
- cell diagrams
- combining half-equations
- Concentration and mass concentration
- concordant titres
- Distinction between strength and concentration
- effect of concentration
Using charge balance in the exam
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