Balancing chemical reactions

By Van Ryan Kristopher R. Galarpe, M.Sc. Envi Sci (Candidate)

How molecules are symbolized

Cl2 2Cl 2Cl2

Molecules may also have brackets to indicate numbers of atoms. E.g. Ca(OH)2 Notice that the OH is a group O Ca O H The 2 refers to both H and O H How many of each atom are in the following? a) NaOH Na = 1, O = 1, H = 1 b) Ca(OH)2 Ca = 1, O = 2, H = 2 c) 3Ca(OH)2 Ca = 3, O = 6, H = 6

Balancing equations: MgO

The law of conservation of mass states that matter can neither be created or destroyed Thus, atoms are neither created or destroyed, only rearranged in a chemical reaction Thus, the number of a particular atom is the same on both sides of a chemical equation Example: Magnesium + Oxygen (from lab) Mg + O2 MgO Mg + O O Mg O However, this is not balanced Left: Mg = 1, O = 2 Right: Mg = 1, O = 1

Balance equations by inspection

From Mg + O2 2Mg + O2 Mg + O2 Mg2 + O2 4Mg + 2 O2 MgO 2MgO MgO 2MgO 4MgO is correct is incorrect is incorrect is incorrect

Hints: start with elements that occur in one compound on each side. Treat polyatomic ions that repeat as if they were a single entity.

a) P4 + 5 O2 P4O10 b) 2 Li + 2 H2O H2 + 2 LiOH c) 2 Bi(NO3)3 + 3 K2S Bi2S3 + 6 KNO3 d) C2H6 +3.5 O2 2 CO2 + 3 H2O 2 C2H6 + 7 O2 4 CO2 + 6 H2O

K Returning to reaction types Na We have looked at several types of reactions Li without worrying about balancing Ca However, all equations should be balanced Mg Predict the products and balance these: Al (recall, metals above replace metals below, Zn reactions with water yield metal hydroxides) Fe Ni 2 Fe + 3 CuSO4 3 Cu + Fe2(SO4)3 Sn Ni + NaCl NR (no reaction) Pb H 2 Al + 3 CuCl2 3 Cu + 2AlCl3 Cu 2 Li + ZnCO3 Zn + Li2CO3 Hg 2 Li + 2 H2O 2 LiOH + H2 Ag Au 2 Al2O3 4 Al + 3O2

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