Question

how should we balance a chemical equation


for grade 5th​

Answer 1

Answer:

In order to balance the chemical equation, you need to make sure the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side is equal to the number of atoms of each element on the product side. In order make both sides equal, you will need to multiply the number of atoms in each element until both sides are equal.

Answer 2

The method you can follow is hit and trail. The steps are as follows:

• Let us try to balance the following chemical equation-$\bold{ \green{Fe+H_2O→Fe_3O_4+H_2}}$

• To balance a chemical equation first draw boxes around each formula. Do not change anything inside the boxes while balancing the equation.

$\boxed{Fe}+ \boxed{H_2O}→\boxed{Fe_3O_4}+\boxed{H_2}$

• List the number of atoms of different elements present in the unbalance equation. $\bold{Element} \\ Fe = No. \: of \: atoms \: in \: reactants = 1 \\ H = No. \: of \: atoms \: in \: reactants = 2 \\ O = No. \: of \: atoms \: in \: reactants = 1 \\ \\ Fe = No. \: of \: atoms \: in \: product= 3\\ H = No. \: of \: atoms \: in \: product= 2 \\ O = No. \: of \: atoms \: in \: product = 4$

• It is often convenient to start balancing with the compound that contains the maximum number of atoms. It maybe reactant or a product. In that compound,select the element which has maximum number of. Using these criteria, we select Fe_2O_3 and the element Oxygen and it. There are 4 oxygen atoms on the RHS and only one on the LHS.To equalise the number of atoms it must be remembered that we cannot alter the formulae of compounds or elements involved in the reaction.For example to balance oxygen atoms we can put coffee cient 4 as 4 H_2O and not H_2O_4. Now the partially balanced equation becomes-

$\boxed{Fe}+ \boxed{3H_2O}→\boxed{Fe_3O_4}+\boxed{H_2}$

• Fe nd H atoms are still not balanced. Pick any of these elements to proceed further. Let as balance hydrogen atoms in the partially balanced equation. To equalise the number of atoms make the number of molecules of hydrogen as 4 on the RHS.$\bold{Atoms \: of \: hydrogen} \\ \\ Initial (in \: reactants) \: 8 \: in \: (4H_2O) \\ In \: products \: 2 \: in \: (H_2) \\ \\ To \: balance \: (in \: reactants) \: 8 \\ in \: reactants \: 2×4$

$\boxed{Fe}+ \boxed{3H_2O}→\boxed{Fe_3O_4}+\boxed{3H_2}$

• Examine the above equation and pick up the third element which is not balanced. You find that only one element is left to be balance that is Iron. To equalise iron we take 3 atoms of iron on the LHS.

$\boxed{2Fe}+ \boxed{3H_2O}→\boxed{Fe_3O_4}+\boxed{3H_2}$

• Finally,check the correctness of the balanced equation with count atoms on each element on both sides of the equation.$\bold{ \red{2Fe+3H_2O→Fe_3O_4+3H_2}}$

$\: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \huge \bold{@WildCat7083 }$