How to Balance Chemical Equations?
| 5 Simple
and Easy Steps
Symbolic representation of a chemical reaction is referred to as a
chemical equation. Basically, the symbols are the letter that represents
an element. Moreover, in a chemical reaction, the reactants are written
on the left side and products are written on the right side. In addition,
we connect these two sides with an arrow leading from the left to the
right, symbolizing the reaction. Besides, in this article, we will learn
how to balance chemical equations?
As per the law of conservation of mass, “atom can neither be created
nor can be destroyed”. So, the product and reactants of chemical
equations should have an equal number of atoms on both sides.
Table of content
1 Methods of Balancing Chemical Equations
1.1 Method 1 – Traditional Balance
1.1.1 Write down the given equation
1.1.2 Write the number of atoms per element
1.1.3 Save oxygen and hydrogen for the last
1.1.4 Begin with a single element
1.1.5 Use coefficient to balance carbon atom
1.1.6 Next, balance the hydrogen
1.1.7 Balancing oxygen
1.2 Method 2- Completing Algebraic Balance
1.2.1 Write down the equation
1.2.2 Allot letter to each substance
1.2.3 Check the numbers
1.2.4 Now repeat this with each element.
1.2.5 Solve the numeric equation
Methods of Balancing Chemical Equations
1. Traditional Balance Method
2. Completing Algebraic Balance Method
Method 1 – Traditional Balance
1. Write down the given equation
C8H8+O2→H2O+CO2
In this reaction, propane burns in the presence of oxygen to produce
water and carbon dioxide.
2. Write the number of atoms per element
Look at the subscripts numbers written next to each element to find the
number of atoms in the equation. Make sure to do this for both sides.
Also, it would be better to connect it back to the original equation,
noting how each element appears.
For instance, in the above example, you have 3 oxygen on the right side,
but that total results from addition. The left side has 3 carbon, 8
hydrogens, and 2 oxygen. While, the right side has 1 carbon, 2
hydrogens, and 3 oxygen.
3. Save oxygen and hydrogen for the last
Both oxygen and hydrogen are common in molecules. So, it’s likely
that you’ll have them on both sides of your equation because it’s better
to balance them last. Also, you need to recount your atoms for
balancing the oxygen and hydrogen as you’ll likely need to use a
coefficient to balance the other atoms.
4. Begin with a single element
Firstly, if you have more than one element to balance then select the one
that appears in a single molecule of reactants and in a single molecule of
products. In this, you need to balance the carbon atom first.
5. Use coefficient to balance carbon atom
For this add a coefficient before the single carbon atom on the right side
of the equation to balance it off with 3 carbon atoms on the left of the
equation.
C3H8+O2→H2O+3CO2
Now you a see that on both sides there are 3 carbon atoms which make
carbon atom in balance. However, in a chemical equation, you can alter
the coefficient but you can’t change the subscripts.
6. Next, balance the hydrogen
As you have to balance all the atoms so next balance the hydrogen. On
the left side, there is 8 hydrogen and in the right, there are only 2. So,
use coefficient to balance hydrogen by adding coefficient 4 before the
hydrogen atom as it already has subscript 2. Hence there are 8 hydrogen
atoms on both the side as when you multiply confident 4 with subscript
2 then you get 8.
C3H8+O2→4H2O+3CO2
7. Balancing oxygen
According to the general rule, coefficient multiplies with a subscript. In
this way on the right side there are 10 oxygen atoms
(3CO2→3×2=6+4atomsfrom4H2O). So to balance it, you have to
add 8 more atoms on the left side.
For doing this, add a coefficient 5 to the oxygen molecule to make it 10
(5×2= 10).
C3H8+5O2→4H2O+3CO2
Now, on both the side there is equal number of carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen atoms. Hence, the equation is complete.
Method 2- Completing Algebraic Balance
Algebraic balance method or Bottomley’s method, is very useful for
complex reactions however, it takes a bit longer.
1. Write down the equation
Firstly, write down the equation as it is
PCl5+H2O→H3PO4+HCl
2. Allot letter to each substance
Now allot a letter to each compound or element
aPCl5+bH2O→cH3PO4+dHCl
3. Check the numbers
See if the elements exist on both sides and set those equal to each other.
aPCl5+bH2O→cH3PO4+dHCl
In the equation, on the left side there are 2b atoms of hydrogen (2 for
every molecule of H2O), While on the right side, there are 3c+d atoms
of hydrogen (3 for every molecule of H3PO4 and 1 for every molecule
of HCl). Also, the number of atoms of hydrogen has to be equal on both
sides, 2b need to be equal to 3c+d.
4. Now repeat this with each element.
P: a = c
Cl: 5a = d
H: 2b = 3c + d
5. Solve the numeric equation
Now solve all these numeric equations to get values of each coefficient.
As there are more variables than equations so there can be multiple
solutions. Al you need to do is find the smallest and non-fractional
form. For doing it quickly assign a value for the variable. Let’s take
a=1. Then,
As P: a = c, we know that c = 1.
Subsequently Cl: 5a = d, we know that d = 5
Since H: 2b = 3c + d, now you can calculate b like this:
2b = 3(1) + 5
2b = 3 + 5
2b = 8
b=4
So this displays that the values are as:
a=1
b=4
c=1
d=5
So the complete equation is:
PCl5+4H2O→H3PO4+5HCl
