How to balance equations

Chemistry

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Answer

Balancing chemical equations ensures that the law of conservation of mass is upheld, meaning the number of atoms of each element is the same on both the reactant and product sides of the equation.

Step-by-step solution

11 steps

  1. Write the unbalanced chemical equation.

  2. Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides.

  3. Use coefficients (numbers placed in front of chemical formulas) to balance the atoms.

    Start with elements that appear in only one reactant and one product.

  4. Balance polyatomic ions as single units if they appear unchanged on both sides.

  5. Balance oxygen and hydrogen last, if applicable.

  6. Verify that the number of atoms of each element is equal on both sides.

    For example, to balance the equation for the formation of water from hydrogen and oxygen:
    Unbalanced: H2+O2→H2OH_{2} + O_{2} \rightarrow H_{2}O

  7. Reactants

    2 H, 2 O. Products: 2 H, 1 O.

  8. To balance oxygen, place a coefficient of 2 in front of H2OH_{2}O

    H2+O2→2H2OH_{2} + O_{2} \rightarrow 2H_{2}O.

  9. Now, reactants

    2 H, 2 O. Products: 4 H, 2 O.

  10. To balance hydrogen, place a coefficient of 2 in front of H2H_{2}

    2H2+O2→2H2O2H_{2} + O_{2} \rightarrow 2H_{2}O.

  11. Verification

    Reactants: 4 H, 2 O. Products: 4 H, 2 O. The equation is balanced.

    The balanced equation is:

    2H2+O2→2H2O2H_{2} + O_{2} \rightarrow 2H_{2}O
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