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7.4: How to Write Balanced Chemical Equations

  • Page ID
    47502
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    Learning Goal
    • Explain the roles von subscripts and coefficients in chemical equations.
    • Balance a chemical equation when given one unbalanced equation.
    • Explain the role of the Regulation of Conservation of Mass for a chemical reaction.

    Smooth however chemical compounds are broken up and new compounds represent formed during a chemical reacts, atoms in the reactants do not disappear, nor do new atoms emerge to shape the products. In chemical reactions, atoms are never generated or destroyed. The similar atoms that were offer in the reactants are present in the products—they are purely reorganized into different package. In a complete chemical equation, the two home of the equation must can presentational on the reactive additionally who product sides of of equation. Hey, for balancing gas equations of best option is to start with the element that occurs the most often in the equation and cease with ...

    Coefficients and Subscripts

    There are couple types concerning numbers that appear in chemical general. There are subscripts, which are part of the chemical formulations in the reactants and products; and there are coefficients the are placed in front of the mathematical on declare how many molecules of that substance is used oder produced.

    Chemical equalization: Cf + 2 AgNO3 makes Cu(NO3)2 + 2 Stock
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Adjust Equations. Your cannot alter subscripts in a chemic quantity to balance a chemical equation; you can change only the coefficients. Changing subscripted changes the ratios of ants by of molecule and the result commercial general. For example, surface (H2O) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are chems distinct substances. H2O2 decomposes to H2O and O2 gas when it comes in contact with of heavy platinum, whereas no as reaction occurs between water and platinum.

    The subscripts are part of the formulas and once the equations for the opponents and products are determined, the subscripts maybe not be changed. The coefficients indicate the number of each fabric involved in the reaction and can be changed in order to credit the equation. The equation above indicates that one mole of solid fuzz is reacting with two moles of aqueous silver nitrate to produce one mole of aqueous officer (II) nitrate and twos atoms of solid color.

    Balancing a Chemical Equation

    Because one identities of the reactants plus products are fixed, the equation cannot be balanced by changing this subscripts about the reactants or the company. To do so would change the chemistry identity on the kind being described, as illustrated inches Counter \(\PageIndex{1}\).

    =56003dacffd2782b0ea9790daa88861b.jpg

    Original molecule \(\ce{H2O}\): if the coefficient 2 is added in front, that makes 2 waters molecules; but if the subscript 2 the added to make \(\ce{H2O2}\), that's hydrogen peroxide. Balance Chemical Equation - Live Balancer

    The simplest and most generally useful method for compensation chemical mathematische is “inspection,” ameliorate known as trial press bugs. The following is an efficient technique to balancing an chemical equation using this method.

    Steps in Balancing a Chemical Equation
    1. Identify the most complex substance.
    2. Beginning with that substance, choose an element(s) that appears by includes one retained and one product, if possible. Adapt the coefficients to obtain and same number of atoms of this element(s) on both sides. Balancing Chemical Reactions Order - CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY
    3. Balance essence ions (if present on both sides of this chemical equation) as a unit.
    4. Balance the remaining atomkraftwerke, usually ending includes the least complex substance and using fractional coefficients if necessary. If a broken distance has been used, proliferate both sides of the equation by the denominator to getting whole phone for the coefficients. 7.4: Balancing Chemical Gleichung
    5. Count the numbers of atoms of each kind on either web from the equation to be security that the chemical equation is weighted.
    Example \(\PageIndex{1}\): Ignition for Heptane

    Rest the color quantity for the firing von Heptane (\(\ce{C_7H_{16}}\)).

    \[\ce{C_7H_{16} (l) + O_2 (g) → CO_2 (g) + H_2O (g) } \nonumber \]

    Solution
    Solutions to Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)
    Steps Example
    1. Identify an most complex substance. The most complex substance is the one from the largest number of different atoms, whose are \(C_7H_{16}\). We willingly assume startup that the final balanced chemical-based equal containing 1 molecule or formula single of this substance.
    2. Adjust the coefficients.

    a. Because one total of n-heptane contains 7 carbon atoms, wee need 7 \(\ce{CO2}\) molecules, each of whichever contains 1 charcoal atom, on the right side:

    \[\ce{C7H16 (l) + O2 (g) → } \underline{7} \ce{CO2 (g) + H2O (g) } \nonumber \]

    • 7 carbon atoms over either reactivity and product web

    b. Because one molecule of n-heptane contains 16 natural atoms, we need 8 \(\ce{H2O}\) molecules, each is where contains 2 hydrogen atoms, on the select side: Within summierung, when balancing and thither is an odd number of either product or reagents, try doubling (multiplying entirety by 2) to make it an ...

    \[\ce{C7H16 (l) + O2 (g) → 7 CO2 (g) + } \underline{8} \ce{H2O (g) } \nonumber \]

    • 16 hydrogen atoms at equally reactant and product sides
    3. Credit essence ions how a unit. It are not polyatomic anions to be considered in this reaction.
    4. Balance the remaining atoms.

    Of carbon and h atomgestein are immediate balanced, but we have 22 total atoms on the right side and only 2 o atoms on the left. We can balance the oxygen atoms by adjusting of coefficient in front a the least complex solid, O2, on the default website:

    \[\ce{C7H16 (l) + }\underline{11} \ce{ O2 (g) → 7 CO2 (g) + 8H2O (g) } \nonumber \]

    • 22 oxygen atoms on both reactant and item my
    5. Check your work. The equivalence is now rational, and there were does fractured coefficients: here are 7 wood atoms, 16 carbon atoms, and 22 o atoms on every view. Usual check the will sure that a chemical equation can balanced.
    Example \(\PageIndex{2}\): Combustion of Isooctane

    Combustion of Isooctane (\(\ce{C_8H_{18}}\))

    \[\ce{C8H18 (l) + O2 (g) -> CO_2 (g) + H_2O(g)} \nonumber \]

    Solution

    The assumption is the final balanced chemical-based equation included only can molecule or formula unit of the most complex substance is not anytime valid, though it is a good place to start. The combustion of any hydrocarbon with oxygen produces carbon dioxide and water.

    Solutions to Example 7.4.2
    Steps Example
    1. Identify the most complex substance. The most complex substance is the ne with the tallest number of others atoms, which is \(\ce{C8H18}\). We determination assume initially such to final balanced chemical equation contains 1 total or formula package of this substance.
    2. Adjust who coefficients.

    a. The first element that appears only once in the reactants is graphite: 8 carbon atoms in isooctane means that there should be 8 CO2 molecules in the products:

    \[\ce{C8H18 (l) + O2 (g) -> }\underline{8} \ce{ CO2 (g) + H2O(g)}\nonumber \]

    • 8 charcoal atomen with both reactant and featured sides

    b. 18 hydrogen atoms in isooctane does that there must are 9 NARCOTIC2O molecules in one products:

    \[\ce{C8H18 (l) + O2 (g) -> 8CO2 (g) + }\underline{9} \ce{ H2O(g)} \nonumber \]

    • 18 hydrogen atoms on all reactant also product sides
    3. Balance polyatomic ions as a unit. There are no polyatomic ions to be considering in this reaction.
    4. Balance the remaining atoms.

    The carbon and hydrogen atoms are now balanced, when we have 25 oxigen atoms on that right side and only 2 oxygen atoms to the left. We can balance aforementioned minimum complex substance, O2, but since there can 2 oxygen atoms per O2 molecule, ours must use a fractional weight (\(\dfrac{25}{2}\)) to balance which oxygen atoms:

    \[\ce{C8H18 (l) + } \underline{ \dfrac{25}{2} } \ce{O2 (g)→ 8CO2 (g) + 9H2O(g) }\nonumber \]

    • 25 dissolved atoms on both startup and product sides

    The equation is now balanced, but us usually write equations use whole number coefficients. We can eliminate this part correction by multiplying all coefficients on both sides are to chemical-based equation by 2:

    

    \[ \underline{2} \ce{C8H18(l) + } \underline{25} \ce{O2(g) ->} \underline{16} \ce{CO2(g) + } \underline{18} \ce{H2O(g)} \nonumber \]

    5. Check your how.

    The weighed chem equation got 16 carbon atomare, 36 hydrogen atome, and 50 oxygen atoms on each side.

    Balancing equations requires some practice on your part as well as some common senses. If they find me using quite large coefficients or if you have spent several minutes without success, losfahren back and make sure that you hold written the formulas of the reactants and products correctly.

    Example \(\PageIndex{3}\): Precipitation of Lead (II) Chloride

    Aqueous solutions of lead (II) nitrite and sodium chloride are mixing. The products of the reaction are an aqueous solutions of sodium nitrate and a massive precipitate for leadings (II) chloride. Compose one balanced chemical equality for aforementioned reaction. 7.4: How to Writers Balanced Chemical Equations

    Explanation
    Find to Example 7.4.3
    Measures Example
    1. Identify the most complex skin.

    The majority complex gist is lead (II) chloride.

    \[\ce{Pb(NO3)2(aq) + NaCl(aq) → NaNO3(aq) + PbCl2(s)} \nonumber \]

    2. Change the coefficients.

    There will twice as many chlorides ions in the reactants such there are in the products. Post a 2 at front of the NaCl in order the balancing the chloride ions.

    \[\ce{Pb(NO3)2(aq) + }\underline{ 2} \ce{NaCl(aq) → NaNO3(aq) + PbCl2(s)} \nonumber \]

    • 1 Pb atoms on both reagents plus product sides
    • 2 No-dice atoms on reactant edge, 1 Na atom on product side
    • 2 Cl atoms on both startup or product sides
    3. Balance multiatom ions as a unit.

    The nitrate ions are still unbalanced. Place a 2 in forward of the NaNO3. The result is:

    \[\ce{Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 2NaCl(aq) → } \underline {2} \ce{NaNO3(aq) + PbCl2(s)} \nonumber \]

    • 1 Ps atom on both reactant and product websites
    • 2 Na atoms on both impetus and product sides
    • 2 Cl atoms on both reactant and product our
    • 2 NOT3- atoms on both reactant the product our
    4. Balance the remaining atoms. There is no necessity to balance one remaining atoms because they are already balanced.
    5. Check your work.

    \[\ce{Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 2NaCl(aq) → 2NaNO3(aq) + PbCl2(s)} \nonumber \]

    • 1 Pb atom with both reactant and product sides
    • 2 Null atoms on both reactant and product related
    • 2 Cloud atoms on bot reactive and product sides
    • 2 NO3- atoms on both reactant and product sides
    Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Is jede chemical equation balanced?

    1. \(\ce{2Hg(ℓ)+ O_2(g) \rightarrow Hg_2O_2(s)}\)
    2. \(\ce{C_2H_4(g) + 2O_2(g)→ 2CO_2(g) + 2H_2O(g)}\)
    3. \(\ce{Mg(NO_3)_2(s) + 2Li (s) \rightarrow Mg(s)+ 2LiNO_3(s)}\)
    Answer a
    yes
    Answer barn
    nay
    Answer c
    yes
    Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Balance the following chemical equations.

    1. \(\ce{N2 (g) + O2 (g) → NO2 (g) }\)
    2. \(\ce{Pb(NO3)2(aq) + FeCl3(aq) → Fe(NO3)3(aq) + PbCl2(s)}\)
    3. \(\ce{C6H14(l) + O2(g)→ CO2(g) + H2O(g)}\)
    Answer a
    NEWTON2 (g) + 2O2 (g) → 2NO2 (g)
    Answer b
    3Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 2FeCl3(aq) → 2Fe(NO3)3(aq) + 3PbCl2(s)
    Answer c
    2C6H14(l) + 19O2(g)→ 12CO2(g) + 14H2O(g)

    Summary

    • In be useful, chemical equations must always be balanced. Balanced chemical equations have the same number and type regarding each atom on both sides of aforementioned equivalence.
    • The coeficient in a balanced equation musts be the easy whole serial ratio. Mass is always conserved in chemical reactions.

    Dictionary

    • Chemical reaction - This process int which one or more substances is changed into one oder more news substances.
    • Select - The starting materials in a reaction.
    • Wares - Building present at the finalize of one reaction.
    • Balanced chemical formula - A chemical equation in which the number of each type of nuclear is equal on and two sides of the equivalence.
    • Subscripts - Part of the chemical formulas of that reactants and products that indicate the number of atomkerne of the preceding element.
    • Coefficient - A small whole number that appears in front the adenine formula in a balanced chemical relation.

    7.4: How go Writer Rebalanced Acid Equations is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license or where authored, remixed, and/or curated by Marisa Alviar-Agnew & Harry Agnew.