Balancing Chemical Equations is the first step in future chemical calculations.
Balancing Chemical Equations
1
concept
Balancing Chemical Equations
1m
Play a video:
Was this helpful?
in this series of videos, we're gonna take a look at balancing chemical equations when balancing. Always make sure the type and number off Adams on both sides of the arrow are equal. We're going to say in a balanced equation. The numbers that are in red are referred to as the coefficients. So we have to one and two as the coefficients for this balanced equation, and we're talking about type and number of atoms. We'd say that these coefficients get distributed so this, too, would get distributed to this hydrogen. There's already two of them, so two times to give me four hydrogen. This is just the one, so one distributed is one times two, which is two oxygen's on the other side. The two gets distributed, so it be two times the two hydrogen would give me four hydrogen. But there's also one oxygen here, so two times one gives me to oxygen's, so the types of atoms are the same on both sides. I have hydrogen and hydrogen oxygen and oxygen, and then the numbers off each are equal on both sides. Four. Hydrogen, four hydrogen to oxygen's to oxygen's. This is how we ensure a chemical equation is balanced. The types and numbers of each atoms are the same on both sides of the arrow. Now click on the next video and let's take a look at an example question where we go more refined at our approach to balancing a chemical equation.
2
example
Balancing Chemical Equations Example 1
5m
Play a video:
Was this helpful?
in this example question. It says White. The balanced equation for the following by inserting the correct coefficients in the blanks. Remember, those blanks are gonna hold our coefficients. Now, Step one. We set up a list for the elements that are reacting. It's and another list for the elements that are products. Now, remember that your reactant are the compounds or elements that come before the era, and then products are the ones that come after the arrow. If we take a look here, we make sure lists match up. We have carbon hydrogen oxygen as the elements on the react inside. Don't worry about the order of them on the product side. Just make sure that the list match up. Since I wrote Carbon first here, I have to write carbon first here and then h and then Oh, and so this has to follow suit h and then, oh, now let's count to see how many we have of them. So we're gonna go into step to start from the top and going down. Both lists determine how many of each element are present, so we can see here that there's a little sub script of four which mean there's four carbons. There's a subscript of 10 which you mean there's 10 hydrogen and a subscript of two wouldn't mean there's two oxygen's on the other side. Carbon. There's only one carbon here hydrogen. There's a sub script here of two, so there's two hydrogen oxygen. Make sure you look everywhere. On the product side, there's one oxygen here and also one oxygen here for a total of two. Oxygen's now starting for Step three. Starting from the top and going down, both list begin balancing each element to ensure they match Now. Sometimes you may have a decimal or a fraction as a coefficient, and so you must multiply the equation by two. So we're going to see if we have to do it in this case. So coming back up the list don't match. We know it's not balanced on the left side. My list is 4, 10 and 12 but on the product side it's 12 and two. So let's start out with the carbons. This is four, and this is only one, so I have to put a number here, a coefficient here that will multiply the number of carbons and make them match the number of carbons on the react Inside. The number at the place here is four, because that four gets distributed to the carbons. So four times one gives me four carbons now, but it also get distributed to the oxygen's four times. One oxygen is four oxygen's plus this one over here that's still around, so that'd be five. Carbons are the same, so that's good. Let's move down the hydrogen here. This is 10 but this is only two. So think of a number you can place here than when it multiplies. The two hydrogen is here gives me 10. The number would have to be five right, because five times to give me 10. But again, we have to think about what does this do to the oxygen as well, because the five is get getting distributed not only to the hydrogen but also to the number of oxygen's. So five times one is five. Oxygen's plus four mawr is nine oxygen's on this side, So now we have nine on this side, but only two on this side. So you have to think of a number that you can multiply two by to give you non so you can't multiply by four because that's only eight. You can't multiply by five because that would be 10. So in between would be 4545 times to gives me nine. But remember, we said in step full well, in step three, sometimes you have a decimal or a fraction as a coefficient. So you must multiply the equation by two. And we do this so that all the coefficients become whole numbers. So here, coming back up here, we're gonna multiply this whole thing times, too. When we multiply the entire equation by two, that, too gets distributed toe all of the coefficients, all of them get multiplied by two. So that means that our balance equation now becomes too. C four h 10 for gas plus nine for gas and then our products five times to gives me 10 h 20 as a liquid plus four times to gives me eight CEO, right. So that would those would be the coefficients from a balanced equation to 9, 10 and eight. So any time you're balancing a chemical equation, make your list and follow the steps necessary to balance
3
Problem
Write the balanced equation for the following by inserting the correct coefficients in the blanks.
Was this helpful?
4
Problem
Determine the total sum of the coefficients after balancing the following equation.
Was this helpful?
5
Problem
Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction that occurs when the gasoline additive methyl tert-butyl ether, C5H12O (l), burns in air.
Was this helpful?
Additional resources for Balancing Chemical Equations
PRACTICE PROBLEMS AND ACTIVITIES (93)
- The reaction of A2 (red spheres) with B2 (blue spheres) is shown in the diagram. What is the balanced chemical...
- The reaction between reactant A (blue spheres) and reactant B (red spheres) is shown in the following diagram:...
- What are the coefficients in the balanced equation for the combustion of ethanol? (LO 3.2) (a) 1, 3, 2, 3 (b)...
- The following diagram shows the combination reaction between hydrogen, H2, and carbon monoxide, CO, to produce...
- The following diagram shows the combination reaction between hydrogen, H2, and carbon monoxide, CO, to produce...
- Nitrogen 1N22 and hydrogen 1H22 react to form ammonia 1NH32. Consider the mixture of N2 and H2 shown in the ac...
- Write “true” or “false” for each statement. (a) We balance chemical equations as we do because energy must be ...
- A key step in balancing chemical equations is correctly identifying the formulas of the reactants and products...
- Balance the following equations: (c) Al(OH)31s2 + H2SO41l2¡Al2(SO4)3(s) + H2O(l)
- Balance the following equations: (d) Na2CO31aq2 + HCl1aq2¡NaCl1aq2 + H2O1l2 + CO2(g)
- Balance the following equations: (c) Ba3N21s2 + H2O1aq2¡Ba(OH)21aq2 + NH31g2
- Balance the following equations: (b) Au2S31s2 + H21g2¡Au1s2 + H2S1g2
- Balance the following equations: (b) NH31g2 + O21g2¡NO1g2 + H2O1g2
- Balance the following equations: (c) MnO21s2 + HCl1aq2 ¡MnCl21s2 + H2O1l2 + Cl2(g)
- Balance the following equations: (b) Cu1s2 + HNO31aq2¡Cu(NO3)21aq2 + NO21g) + H2O(l)
- Balance the following equations: (d) KOH1aq2 + H3PO41aq2 ¡K3PO41aq2 + H2O1l2
- Write balanced chemical equations corresponding to each of the following descriptions: (c) When hydrogen ga...
- Write balanced chemical equations to correspond to each of the following descriptions: (d) When solid mercury(...
- Write balanced chemical equations to correspond to each of the following descriptions: (c) Phosphine, PH31g2, ...
- Write balanced chemical equations to correspond to each of the following descriptions: (b) Boron sulfide, B2S3...
- (c) What is the sum of the coefficients in the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of one mole of ac...
- Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction that occurs when (d) dimethylether, CH3OCH31g2, is combust...
- Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction that occurs when (c) the hydrocarbon styrene, C8H81l2, is...
- Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction that occurs when (b) barium carbonate decomposes into ba...
- Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction that occurs when (b) silver(I) oxide decomposes into sil...
- At 900 °C, titanium tetrachloride vapor reacts with molten magnesium metal to form solid titanium metal and mo...
- The diagrams represent a reaction on the molecular level. Atoms of A are represented with red spheres, and ato...
- Which of the following equations is balanced? Balance any that need it. (a) The thermite reaction, used in wel...
- Balance the following equations. (d) UO2 + HF --> UF4 + H2O
- Balance the following equations. (c) S + O2 --> SO3
- Balance the following equations. (b) CaC2 + H2O --> Ca(OH)2 + C2H2
- Balance the following equations. (a) Mg + HNO3 --> H2 + Mg(NO3)2
- Balance the following equations. (c) The burning of rocket fuel: C2H8N2 + N2O4 --> N2 + CO2 + H2O
- Balance the following equations. (b) The spoilage of wine into vinegar: C2H6O + O2 --> C2H4O2 + H2O
- Balance the following equations. (a) The explosion of ammonium nitrate: NH4NO3 --> N2 + O2 + H2O
- The following reaction is exothermic: (a) Write a balanced equation for the reaction (red spheres represent A ...
- Balance the following equations. (d) NO2 + H2O --> HNO3 + NO
- Balance the following equations. (c) CaCN2 + H2O --> CaCO3 + NH3
- Balance the following equations. (b) P4O10 + H2O --> H3PO4
- Balance the following equations. (a) SiCl4 + H2O --> SiO2 + HCl
- Balance the following equations. (a) VCl3 + Na + CO --> V(CO)6 + NaCl
- Balance the following equations. (c) NH4ClO4 + Al --> Al2O3 + N2 + Cl2 + H2O
- Balance the following equations. (b) Au + H2SeO4 --> Au2(SeO4)3 + H2SeO3 + H2O
- Balance the following equations. (a) C6H5NO2 + O2 --> CO2 + H2O + NO2
- The following reaction of A3 molecules is spontaneous. (a) Write a balanced equation for the reaction.
- Balance the following equations. (a) CO(NH2)2(aq) + HOCl(aq) --> NCl3(aq) + CO2(aq) + H2O(l)
- Balance the following equations. (b) Ca3(PO4)2(s) + SiO2(s) + C(s) --> P4(g) + CaSiO3(l) + CO(g)
- The following pictures represent the initial state and the equilibrium state for the reaction of A2 molecules ...
- Complete and balance each hydrocarbon combustion reaction. b.CH3CH2CH“CH2 +O2 ¡
- Complete and balance each hydrocarbon combustion reaction. c. CH‚CCH2CH3 + O2 ¡
- The following pictures represent equilibrium mixtures at 325 K and 350 K for a reaction involving A atoms (red...
- The following pictures represent the initial and equilibrium states for the exothermic decomposition of gaseou...
- The following pictures represent the initial and equilibrium states for the exothermic reaction of solid A (re...
- A 1.50-g sample of quinone 1C6H4O22 is burned in a bomb calorimeter whose total heat capacity is 8.500 kJ>°...
- A 2.20-g sample of phenol 1C6H5OH2 was burned in a bomb calorimeter whose total heat capacity is 11.90 kJ>°...
- Chlorine reacts with oxygen to form Cl2O7. (b) Write a balanced equation for the formation of Cl2O71l2 from t...
- Magnesium metal burns in oxygen to form magnesium oxide, MgO. (a) Write a balanced equation for the reaction.
- Calcium hydride reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. (a) Write a balanced chemical eq...
- Consider the mixture of propane, C3H8, and O2 shown here. (a) Write a balanced equation for the combustion rea...
- Diethyl ether, C4H10O1l2, a flammable compound that was once used as a surgical anesthetic, has the structure ...
- Write balanced complete ionic and net ionic equations for each reaction. b. MgS(aq) + CuCl2(aq)¡CuS(s) + MgC...
- The reaction of tungsten hexachloride (WCl6) with bismuth gives hexatungsten dodecachloride (W6Cl12). WCl6 + B...
- Write balanced chemical equations for (a) the complete combustion of acetone (CH3COCH3), a common organic so...
- Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction of solid lithium with liquid water.
- Write a balanced equation for the synthesis of the 2–6 semiconductor ZnTe by chemical vapor deposition from d...
- During photosynthesis, plants use energy from sunlight to form glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen from carbon dioxid...
- The ionic substance strontium oxide, SrO, forms from the reaction of strontium metal with molecular oxygen. Th...
- The fluoride ion reacts with water to produce HF. (a) Write out the chemical equation for this reaction.
- Sulfuric acid is a component of acid rain formed when gaseous sulfur dioxide pollutant reacts with gaseous oxy...
- Nitric acid is a component of acid rain that forms when gaseous nitrogen dioxide pollutant reacts with gaseous...
- When iron rusts, solid iron reacts with gaseous oxygen to form solid iron(III) oxide. Write the balanced chemi...
- Write the balanced chemical equation for the fermentation of sucrose (C12H22O11) by yeasts in which the aqueou...
- Write the balanced chemical equation for each reaction. c. Aqueous hydrochloric acid reacts with solid mangane...
- Write the balanced chemical equation for each reaction. a. Solid lead(II) sulfide reacts with aqueous hydrobro...
- Write the balanced chemical equation for each reaction. d. Liquid pentane (C5H12) reacts with gaseous oxygen t...
- Write the balanced chemical equation for each reaction. b. Gaseous carbon monoxide reacts with hydrogen gas to...
- Write the balanced chemical equation for each reaction. d. Gaseous ammonia (NH3) reacts with gaseous oxygen to...
- Write the balanced chemical equation for each reaction. b. Solid iron(III) oxide reacts with hydrogen gas to f...
- Write the balanced chemical equation for each reaction. a. Solid copper reacts with solid sulfur to form solid...
- Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction of aqueous potassium hydroxide with aqueous iron(III) ch...
- Balance each chemical equation. b. Co(NO3)3(aq) + (NH4)2S(aq)¡Co2S3(s) + NH4NO3(aq)
- Predict the products and write a balanced molecular equation for each reaction. If no reaction occurs, write “...
- Sulfur tetrafluoride 1SF42 reacts slowly with O2 to form sulfur tetrafluoride monoxide 1OSF42 according to th...
- One of the most bizarre reactions in chemistry is called the Ugi reaction: R1C(=O)R2 + R3 - NH2 + R4COOH + R5N...
- Isooctane, C8H18, is the component of gasoline from which the term octane rating derives. (a) Write a balanced...
- When solid mercury(I) carbonate, Hg2CO3, is added to nitric acid, HNO3, a reaction occurs to give mercury(II) ...
- When 10.0 g of a mixture of Ca1ClO322 and Ca1ClO22 is heated to 700 °C in a 10.0-L vessel, both compounds de...
- When a gaseous compound X containing only C, H, and O is burned in O2, 1 volume of the unknown gas reacts with...
- Isooctane, C8H18, is the component of gasoline from which the term octane rating derives. (a) Write a balanced...
- Chemical explosions are characterized by the instantaneous release of large quantities of hot gases, which se...
- Combustion analysis of 0.1500 g of methyl tert-butyl ether, an octane booster used in gasoline, gave 0.3744 g ...
- Element M is prepared industrially by a two-step procedure according to the following (unbalanced) equations: ...
- Acid spills are often neutralized with sodium carbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate. For neutralization of ac...