Balance equations

Question

Balance equations

ScanSolve AI Tutor · Accepted Answer

Aduah, let's balance another equation.

Consider the combustion of methane: $CH_{4} + O_{2} \rightarrow CO_{2} + H_{2}O$

Count the atoms of each element on both sides of the unbalanced equation.
Reactants: Carbon (C): 1, Hydrogen (H): 4, Oxygen (O): 2
Products: Carbon (C): 1, Hydrogen (H): 2, Oxygen (O): 3 (2 from $CO_{2}$ and 1 from $H_{2}O$ )
Balance carbon atoms.
In this equation, carbon is already balanced with 1 atom on each side.
Balance hydrogen atoms.
There are 4 hydrogen atoms on the reactant side ( $CH_{4}$ ) and 2 hydrogen atoms on the product side ( $H_{2}O$ ). To balance hydrogen, place a coefficient of 2 in front of $H_{2}O$ .
$CH_{4} + O_{2} \rightarrow CO_{2} + 2H_{2}O$
Re-count the atoms after balancing hydrogen.
Reactants: Carbon (C): 1, Hydrogen (H): 4, Oxygen (O): 2
Products: Carbon (C): 1, Hydrogen (H): $2 \times 2 = 4$ , Oxygen (O): 2 (from $CO_{2}$ ) $+ 2$ (from $2H_{2}O$ ) $= 4$
Balance oxygen atoms.
There are 2 oxygen atoms on the reactant side ( $O_{2}$ ) and 4 oxygen atoms on the product side. To balance oxygen, place a coefficient of 2 in front of $O_{2}$ .
$CH_{4} + 2O_{2} \rightarrow CO_{2} + 2H_{2}O$
Verify that all atoms are balanced.
Reactants: Carbon (C): 1, Hydrogen (H): 4, Oxygen (O): $2 \times 2 = 4$
Products: Carbon (C): 1, Hydrogen (H): $2 \times 2 = 4$ , Oxygen (O): 2 (from $CO_{2}$ ) $+ 2$ (from $2H_{2}O$ ) $= 4$

The equation is now balanced.

Answer