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Balanced Chemical Equations S4 FAV

The document provides information on balancing chemical equations, including: - Chemical equations must be balanced so that the number of atoms of each element are the same on both sides of the reaction arrow. - To balance equations, coefficients are placed in front of formulas as needed to make the numbers of each type of atom equal on both sides. - State symbols are often included in parentheses after formulas to indicate the physical state of each substance. - Examples are given of balancing equations for several chemical reactions through determining coefficients that make the numbers of each atom equal on both sides.

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Fatima Ahmed-Veriter
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48 views4 pages

Balanced Chemical Equations S4 FAV

The document provides information on balancing chemical equations, including: - Chemical equations must be balanced so that the number of atoms of each element are the same on both sides of the reaction arrow. - To balance equations, coefficients are placed in front of formulas as needed to make the numbers of each type of atom equal on both sides. - State symbols are often included in parentheses after formulas to indicate the physical state of each substance. - Examples are given of balancing equations for several chemical reactions through determining coefficients that make the numbers of each atom equal on both sides.

Uploaded by

Fatima Ahmed-Veriter
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Balanced chemical equations

A balanced equation models a chemical reaction using the formulae of the reactants and products. It
shows the number of units of each substance involved.

Balancing an equation

If you just write an equation replacing names with formulae, it may not be balanced. The numbers
of atoms of each element on the left must be the same as they are on the right.

To balance an unbalanced equation, you need to add numbers to the left of one or more formulae.
Here is one way to work out how to do this for the reaction between nitrogen and hydrogen.

State symbols

Balanced equations often include state symbols in brackets after each formula. They show the
physical state of that substance.

State symbol Meaning

(s) Solid

(l) Liquid

(g) Gas

(aq) Aqueous solution

An aqueous solution forms when a substance dissolves in water.

State symbols are useful because they show what a substance is like. For example:

 H2O(l) is liquid water, but H2O(g) is steam


 HCl(g) is hydrogen chloride gas, but HCl(aq) is hydrochloric acid

Miss Ahmed S4 Chemistry Balancing Chemical Equations 1


How to write the equation for a reaction

These are the steps to follow, when writing an equation:

1) Write the equation in words.

2) Now write it using symbols. Make sure all the formulae are correct.

3) Check that the equation is balanced, for each type of atom in turn. Make sure you do not change
any formulae.

4) Add the state symbols.

There is a strategy that will help you balance equations more quickly. It is called balancing by
inspection. Basically, you look at how many atoms you have on each side of the equation and add
coefficients to the molecules to balance out the number of atoms.

 Balance atoms present in a single molecule of reactant and product first.


 Balance any oxygen or hydrogen atoms last.

Example 1 Calcium burns in chlorine to form calcium chloride, a solid.

Write an equation for the reaction, using the steps above.

1) calcium + chlorine  calcium chloride

2) Ca + Cl2  CaCl2

3) Ca: 1 atom on the left and 1 atom on the right.

Cl: 2 atoms on the left and 2 atoms on the right.

The equation is balanced.

4) Ca (s) + Cl2 (g)  CaCl2 (s)

Miss Ahmed S4 Chemistry Balancing Chemical Equations 2


Example 2 Hydrogen chloride is formed by burning hydrogen in chlorine.

Write an equation for the reaction.

1) hydrogen + chlorine  hydrogen chloride

2) H2 + Cl2  HCl

3) H: 2 atoms on the left and 1 atom on the right.

Cl: 2 atoms on the left and 1 atom on the right.

The equation is not balanced. It needs another molecule of hydrogen chloride on the right. So a 2 is
put in front of the HCl.

H2 + Cl2  2HCl

The equation is now balanced.

4) H2 (g) + Cl2 (g)  2HCl (g)

Example 3 Magnesium burns in oxygen to form magnesium oxide, a white solid.

Write an equation for the reaction.

1) magnesium 1 oxygen magnesium oxide

2) Mg 1 O2 MgO

3) Mg: 1 atom on the left and 1 atom on the right.

O: 2 atoms on the left and 1 atom on the right.

The equation is not balanced.

Try this: Mg + O2  2MgO

(The 2 goes in front of the MgO.)

Another magnesium atom is now needed on the left:

2Mg + O2  2MgO

The equation is balanced.

4) 2Mg (s) + O2 (g)  2MgO (s)

Miss Ahmed S4 Chemistry Balancing Chemical Equations 3


Exercise

Balance the following equations:

a) Na (s) + Cl2 (g)  NaCl (s)

b) H2 (g) + I2 (g)  HI (g)

c) Na (s) + H2O (l)  NaOH (aq) + H2 (g)

d) NH3 (g)  N2 (g) + H2 (g)

e) C (s) + CO2 (g)  CO (g)

f) Al (s) + O2 (g)  Al2O3 (s)

g) Aluminium burns in chlorine to form aluminium chloride, AlCl3, a solid.

Write a balanced equation for the reaction.

Miss Ahmed S4 Chemistry Balancing Chemical Equations 4

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