Writing and Balancing Chemical Equations

What is a Chemical Equation?

A Chemical Equation is a written representation of the
process that occurs in a chemical reaction. A chemical equation is
written with the Reactants on the left side of an arrow and the
Products of the chemical reaction on the right side of the
equation. The head of the arrow typically points toward the
right or toward the product side of the equation, although reactions may indicate equilibrium with the
reaction proceeding in both directions simultaneously.
The elements in an equation are denoted using their symbols. __Coefficients___ next to the
symbols indicate the ____stoichiometric____ numbers. Subscripts are used to indicate the number of
atoms of an element present in a chemical species.
An example of a chemical equation may be seen in the combustion of methane:

CH4+2O2→CO2+2H2O

Balancing Equations Notes

An equation for a chemical reaction in which the number of atoms for each element in the reaction and
the total charge are the same for both the reactants and the products. In other words, the mass and the
charge are balanced on both sides of the reaction.

Symbol Meaning
+ used to separate one reactant or product from another
used to separate the reactants from the products - it is pronounced
"yields" or "produces" when the equation is read
used when the reaction can proceed in both directions - this is
called an equilibrium arrow and will be used later in the course
(g) indicates that the substance is in a gaseous state
an alternative way of representing a substance in a gaseous state
(s) indicates that the substance is in a solid state
an alternative way of representing a substance in a solid state
indicates that the substance is dissolved in water - the aq comes
(aq) from aqueous
(l) Identifies a phase state as pure liquid
indicates that heat is applied to make the reaction proceed

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LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MASS

In all chemical equations the LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MASS must be met.

Matter can NOT be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Remember, in a chemical reaction, the atoms/ions are simply rearranged to form

new substances.

Therefore, chemical equations MUST be balanced.

WHAT IS A “BALANCED” CHEMICAL EQUATION?

A balanced chemical equation is one in which each side of the equation has the
same number of atoms/ions of each element.

Example: Al (s) + O2 (g) → Al2O3 (s)

Not Balanced
1 Al 2 Al
2 O 3O

4 Al (s)+ 3 O2 (g) → 2 Al2O3 (s)

Balanced
4 Al 4 Al
6 O 6O

RULES FOR BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

1. Write the correct chemical formulas for all of the reactants and the
products.

2. Write the formulas of the reactants on the LEFT of the reaction arrow;
write the formulas of the products on the RIGHT of the reaction arrow.

3. COUNT the total number of atoms/ions of each element in the reactants

and the total number of atoms/ions of each element in the products.
** A polyatomic ion that appears unchanged on both sides of
the equation is counted as a single unit.

4. Balance the elements one at a time using coefficients.

A coefficient is a small WHOLE number that is written in front of a
chemical formula in a chemical equation.

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 When no coefficient is written, the coefficient is assumed to be 1.

It is best to begin with elements OTHER THAN hydrogen and oxygen.

These elements often occur more than twice in equations.

** You must NOT attempt to balance the equation by changing

subscripts in chemical formulas!!!!!!

5. Check each atom/ion, or polyatomic ion to be sure that the equation is

correctly balanced.

6. Finally, make sure that all of the coefficients are in the LOWEST possible
whole number ratios. (At least one of the coefficients must be a prime
number!)

Use coefficients to make sure the number of atoms is the same on both sides of the
equation.
1. _2_ H2 + ___ O2 → _2_ H2O

2. _2_ HCl + ___ Zn →___ ZnCl2 + ___ H2

3. _2_ Al + _3_ CaS → ___ Al2S3 + _3_ Ca

4. Write the skeleton equation for the reaction of solid Iron and gaseous
chlorine react to produce a solid iron (III) chloride
Write unbalanced equation
Fe (s) + Cl2 (g) → FeCl3 (s)
Write balanced equation
2 Fe (s) + 3 Cl2 (g) → 2 FeCl3 (s)

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 Practice
Balancing Chemical Equations Worksheet

Balance the following chemical equations using coefficients

1 1Al(OH)3(s) + 3HCl (aq) → 1AlCl3 (aq) + 3H2O (l)

2. 3Fe2O3 (s) + 1CO (g) → 2Fe3O4(s) + 1CO2 (g)

3. 4FeO (s) + 1O2 (g) → 2Fe2O3 (s)

4. 2C6H6 (l) + 15O2 (g) → 12CO2 (g) + 6H2O (g)

5. 3Ca(OH)2 (aq) + 2H3PO4 (aq) → 6H2O (l) + 1Ca3(PO4)2 (s)

6. 2I4O9 (s) → 1I2O6(s) + 3I2 (s) + 6O2 (g)

7. 2Eu (s) + 6HF (g) → 2EuF3 (s) + 3H2 (g)

8. 3NaHCO3 (aq) + 1C6H8O7 (aq) → 3CO2 (g) + 3H2O (l) + 1Na3C6H5O7 (aq)

9. 1Ni (s) + 4CO (g) → 1Ni(CO)4 (g)

10. 1K2PtCl4 (aq) + 2NH3 (aq) → 1Pt(NH3)2Cl2 (s) + 2KCl (aq)