Balancing Chemical Reactions
Evidence of Chemical Reactions
If we could see the atoms and molecules
that compose matter, we could easily
identify a chemical reaction:
Atoms combine with other atoms to form
compounds.
New molecules form.
The original molecules decompose.
Atoms in one molecule change places with
atoms in another.
Evidence of Chemical Reactions
Visible evidence of a chemical
reaction include:
A color change
The formation of a solid
(precipitate) in a previously
clear solution
The formation of a gas when
you add a substance to a
solution
A change in energy (heat,
light)
Example
Determine if a chemical reaction
has occurred in the following:
Example
Determine if a chemical reaction
has occurred in the following:
Example
Determine if a chemical reaction
has occurred in the following:
Law of Conservation of Mass
“We may lay it down as an
incontestable axiom that, in all the
operations of art and nature, nothing
is created; an equal amount of
matter exists both before and after
the experiment. Upon this principle,
the whole art of performing chemical
experiments depends.”
--Antoine Lavoisier, 1789
Chemical Equations
A chemical equation gives the chemical formulas of the
reactants on the left of the arrow and the products on the
right.
Reactants Product
O2 (g)
CO2 (g)
C(s)
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Chemical Equations are Balanced
In a balanced
chemical reaction
• atoms are not
gained or lost.
• the number of
reactant atoms
is equal to the
number of
product atoms.
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A Balanced Chemical Equation
In a balanced chemical equation,
• there must be the same number of each type of atom on
the reactant side and on the product side of a balanced
equation.
• numbers called coefficients are used in front of one or
more formulas.
Al + S Al2S3 Not Balanced
2Al + 3S Al2S3 Balanced
2 Al = 2 Al
3S = 3S
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Equation for A Chemical Reaction
The reaction occurring in a natural gas flame is
methane reacting with oxygen to form carbon
dioxide and water.
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Chemical Equation
CH4 (g) + O2 (g) CO2 (g) + H2O (g)
Chemical Equation
CH4 (g) + 2 O2 (g) CO2 (g) + 2H2O (g)
Chemical Equation
CH4 (g) + 2 O2 (g) CO2 (g) + 2 H2O(g)
Reactants appear on the left side of
the equation.
Chemical Equation
CH4 (g) + 2 O2 (g) CO2 (g) + 2 H2O (g)
Products appear on the right side of
the equation.
Chemical Equation
CH4 (g) + 2 O2 (g) CO2 (g) + 2 H2O (g)
The states of the reactants and products are
written in parentheses to the right of each
compound.
Chemical Equation
CH4 (g) + 2 O2 (g) CO2 (g) + 2 H2O (g)
Coefficients are inserted to balance
the equation.
Subscripts and Coefficients
Subscripts tell the number of atoms of each
element in a molecule.
Subscripts and Coefficients
Subscripts tell the number of atoms of each
element in a molecule
Coefficients tell the number of molecules.
Symbols Used in Equations
Symbols used in
TABLE 5.2
chemical
equations show
• the states of the
reactants.
• the states of the
products.
• the reaction
conditions.
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Learning Check
State the number of atoms of each element on the
reactant side and the product side for each of the
following balanced equations.
A. P4(s) + 6Br2(l) 4 PBr3(g)
B. 2Al(s) + Fe2O3(s) 2Fe(s) + Al2O3(s)
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Solution
A. P4(s) + 6Br2(l) 4 PBr3(g)
4P 4P
12 Br 12 Br
B. 2Al(s) + Fe2O3(s) 2Fe(s) + Al2O3(s)
2 Al 2 Al
2 Fe 2 Fe
3O 3O
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Learning Check
Determine if each equation is balanced or not.
A. Na(s) + N2(g) Na3N(s)
B. C2H4(g) + H2O(l) C2H5OH(l)
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Solution
Determine if each equation is balanced or not.
A. Na(s) + N2(g) Na3N(s)
No. 2 N on reactant side, 1 N on product side.
1 Na on reactant side, 3 Na on product side.
B. C2H4(g) + H2O(l) C2H5OH(l)
Yes. 2 C = 2C
6H = 6H
1O = 1O
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Guide to Balancing a Chemical
Equation
Copyright © 2005 by Pearson
Education, Inc.
Publishing as Benjamin Cummings
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Steps in Balancing an Equation
To balance the following equation,
Fe3O4(s) + H2(g) Fe(s) + H2O(l)
• work on one element at a time.
• use only coefficients in front of formulas.
• do not change any subscripts.
Fe: Fe3O4(s) + H2(g) 3Fe(s) + H2O(l)
O: Fe3O4(s) + H2(g) 3Fe(s) + 4H2O(l)
H: Fe3O4(s) + 4H2(g) 3Fe(s) + 4H2O(l)
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Balancing Chemical Equations
1. Write the equation with the correct formulas.
NH3(g) + O2(g) NO(g) + H2O(g)
2. Determine if the equation is balanced.
No, not all atoms are balanced.
3. Balance with coefficients in front of formulas.
4NH3(g) + 5O2(g) 4NO(g) + 6H2O(g)
4. Check that atoms of each element are equal in reactants
and products.
4 N (4 x 1 N) = 4 N (4 x 1 N)
12 H (4 x 3 H) = 12 H (6 x 2 H)
10 O (5 x 2 O) = 10 O (4 O + 6 O)
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Learning Check
Check the balance of atoms in the following.
Fe3O4(s) + 4H2(g) 3Fe(s) + 4H2O(l)
A. Number of H atoms in products.
1) 2 2) 4 3) 8
B. Number of O atoms in reactants.
1) 2 2) 4 3) 8
C. Number of Fe atoms in reactants.
1) 1 2) 3 3) 4
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Solution
Fe3O4(s) + 4H2(g) 3Fe(s) + 4H2O(l)
A. Number of H atoms in products.
3) 8 (4H2O)
B. Number of O atoms in reactants.
2) 4 (Fe3O4)
C. Number of Fe atoms in reactants.
2) 3 (Fe3O4)
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Learning Check
Balance each equation and list the coefficients in the
balanced equation going from reactants to products:
A. __Mg(s) + __N2(g) __Mg3N2(s)
1) 1, 3, 2 2) 3, 1, 2 3) 3, 1, 1
B. __Al(s) + __Cl2(g) __AlCl3(s)
1) 3, 3, 2 2) 1, 3, 1 3) 2, 3, 2
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Solution
A. 3) 3, 1, 1
3Mg(s) + 1N2(g) 1Mg3N2(s)
B. 3) 2, 3, 2
2Al(s) + 3Cl2(g) 2AlCl3(s)
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Equations with Polyatomic Ions
33
Balancing with Polyatomic Ions
If they appear on both sides of the
reaction - balance Polyatomic Ions
as a unit.
DO NOT SEPARATE
Balance metals and non-metals
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Balancing with Polyatomic Ions
MgCl2(aq) + Na3PO4(aq) NaCl(aq) + Mg3(PO4)2(s)
Balance PO43- as a unit
MgCl2(aq) + 2Na3PO4(aq) NaCl(aq) + Mg3(PO4)2(s)
2 PO43- = 2 PO43-
Balance Mg and Cl
3MgCl2(aq) + 2Na3PO4(aq) 6NaCl(aq) + Mg3(PO4)2(s)
3 Mg2+ = 3 Mg2+
6 Na+ = 6 Na+
6 Cl- = 6 Cl-
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Balancing Equations
Using T Chart
Fe2O3 + 3 H2SO4 Fe2(SO4)3 + 3 H2O
reactants products
Fe 2 2 Balance the
larger molecules
first… leave the
O 3 3
1 single atoms until
last!
H 6
2 62
SO4 3
1 3
Balancing Equations
Balance the following equation by adjusting
coefficients Try the “t” chart again!
2 KClO3 2 KCl + 3 O2
reactants products
K 1
2 12
Cl 1
2 1
2
O 3
6 2
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Balancing with Reactions
CH3OH(l) + O2(g) CO2(g) + 2 H2O(g)
Multiply by 2
2 CH3OH(l) + 3 O2(g) 2 CO2(g) + 4 H2O(g)
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Learning Check
Balance and list the coefficients from reactants to products.
A. __Fe2O3(s) + __C(s) __Fe(s) + __CO2(g)
1) 2, 3, 2, 3 2) 2, 3, 4, 3 3) 1, 1, 2, 3
B. __Al(s) + __FeO(s) __Fe(s) + __Al2O3(s)
1) 2, 3, 3, 1 2) 2, 1, 1, 1 3) 3, 3, 3, 1
C. __Al(s) + __H2SO4(aq) __Al2(SO4)3(aq) + __H2(g)
1) 3, 2, 1, 2 2) 2, 3, 1, 3 3) 2, 3, 2, 3
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Solution
A. 2) 2, 3, 4, 3
2Fe2O3(s) + 3C(s) 4Fe(s) + 3CO2(g)
B. 1) 2, 3, 3, 1
2Al(s) + 3FeO(s) 3Fe(s) + 1Al2O3(s)
C. 2) 2, 3, 1, 3
2Al(s) + 3H2SO4(aq) 1Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 3H2(g)
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