how to balance chemical equation?
Answers
A chemical equation is a written symbolic representation of a chemical reaction. The reactant chemical(s) are given on the left-hand side and the product chemical(s) on the right-hand side. The two are connected with an arrow leading from the left to the right, symbolizing the reaction. The law of conservation of mass states that no atoms can be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction, so the number of atoms that are present in the reactants has to balance the number of atoms that are present in the products. Follow this guide to learn how to balance chemical equations differently.
1
Write down your given equation. For this example, you will use:
C3H8 + O2 --> H2O + CO2
This reaction occurs when propane (C3H8) is burned in the presence of oxygen to produce water and carbon dioxide.
2
Write down the number of atoms per element. Do this for each side of the equation. Look at the subscripts next to each atom to find the number of atoms in the equation. When writing it out, it's a good idea to connect it back to the original equation, noting how each element appears.[2]
For example, you have 3 oxygen atoms on the right side, but that total results from addition.
Left side: 3 carbon (C3), 8 hydrogen (H8) and 2 oxygen (O2).
Right side: 1 carbon (C), 2 hydrogen (H2) and 3 oxygen (O + O2).
3
Save hydrogen and oxygen for last, as they are often on both sides. Hydrogen and oxygen are both common in molecules, so it's likely that you'll have them on both sides of your equation. It's best to balance them last.[3]
You'll need to recount your atoms before balancing the hydrogen and oxygen, as you'll likely need to use coefficients to balance the other atoms in the equation.
4
Start with single elements. If you have more than one element left to balance, select the element that appears in only a single molecule of reactants and in only a single molecule of products. This means that you will need to balance the carbon atoms first.[4]
5
Use a coefficient to balance the single carbon atom. Add a coefficient to the single carbon atom on the right of the equation to balance it with the 3 carbon atoms on the left of the equation.[5]
C3H8 + O2 --> H2O + 3CO2
The coefficient 3 in front of carbon on the right side indicates 3 carbon atoms just as the subscript 3 on the left side indicates 3 carbon atoms.
In a chemical equation, you can change coefficients, but you must never alter the subscripts.
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Balancing a chemical equation :
Balancing of a chemical equation means to equalise the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.
Consider the following steps for balancing the chemical equation :
For example, iron reacts with water (steam) to form iron(II, III) oxide and hydrogen.
- Step-I : Write the chemical equation in the form of a word equation. Keep the reactants on the leſt hand side and the products on the right hand side. Separate them by an arrow ( → ) with head pointing from the reactants to products.
Iron + Steam → Iron (II, III) oxide + Hydrogen
- Step-II : Write down the symbols and formulae of the various reactants and products which gives skeletal chemical equation.
Fe + H2O → Fe3O4 + H2
- Step-III : Listing number of atoms of different elements.
Fe element :
In LHS - 1 element
In RHS - 3 elements
H element :
In LHS - 2 element
In RHS - 2 elements
O element :
In LHS - 1 element
In RHS - 4 elements
- Step-IV : Select the compound with maximum number of atoms to start balancing. In that compound, balance the element with maximum number of atoms (e.g., oxygen in the given equation). It may be a reactant or a product.
Atom of oxygen :
1) initially -
In reactants -1 ( in H2O )
In product - 4 ( in Fe3O4 )
2) To balance :
In reactants - 1 × 4
In product - 4
Fe + 4H2O → Fe3O4 + H2
- Step-V : To balance the atoms of an element, put a whole number coefficient before the formula of the compound. If selection of the biggest formula appears inconvenient, balance the atoms of that element which occurs at minimum number of places on both sides of the equation. Atoms of the element which occur at maximum places are balanced at last.
To balance H-atoms on both sides :
Atom of Hydrogen :
1) initially -
In reactants - 8 ( in 4H2O )
In product - 2 ( in H2 )
2) To balance :
In reactants - 8
In product - 2×4
Fe + 4H2O → Fe3O4 + 4H2
To balance Fe-atoms on both sides :
Atom of Iron :
1) initially -
In reactants - 1 ( in Fe )
In product - 3 ( in Fe3O4 )
2) To balance :
In reactants - 1×3
In product - 3
So, the equation would be
3Fe + 4H2O → Fe3O4 + 4H2
- Step VI : For checking the correct balanced equation, we count atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.
Fe element :
In LHS - 3 element
In RHS - 3 elements
H element :
In LHS - 8 element
In RHS - 8 elements
O element :
In LHS - 4 element
In RHS - 4 elements
As the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation are equal, the equation is balanced.
3Fe(s) + 4H2O(g) → Fe3O4(s) + 4H2(g)
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