Question

1. What information do you get from a balanced chemical equation
2. Why should we balance a chemical equation? (AS)​

Answer 1

Ans 1. A balanced chemical equation can provide the following information :

1. The reactants and products through their symbols and formulae.

2. The ratio of molecules of reactants and products.

3. As molecular masses are expressed in unified mass (u), the relative masses of reactants and products are known from the equation.

4. If the masses are expressed in grams then the equation also gives the molar ratios of reactants and products.

Ans 2. According to law of conservation of mass, when a chemical reaction occurs, the mass of the products should be equal to mass of the reactants. Therefore, the amount of the atoms in each element does not change in the chemical reaction. As a result chemical equation needs to be balanced.