Balancing Chemical Equations (Chapter 8) You may check your work with ChemiCalc. http://people.emich.edu/bramsay1/ccc-release/chem.

html Equations MUST be balanced before performing any quantitative calculations. Rules and Suggestions for Balancing Equations 1) The same # and type of atom must be present on each side of the equation. 2) Balancing is accomplished by adding coefficients. NEVER change the subscripts. 3) Coefficients must be in the smallest whole # ratio. 4) Balancing is done by trial and error. 5) Balance Hs and Os last. 6) Balance polyatomic ions as one unit. Rules and Suggestions from Physical Science Text Balancing chemical equations is mostly trial-and-error procedure. The key to success at balancing equations is to think it out one step-by-step while remembering the following: 1) Atoms are neither lost nor gained nor do they change their identity in a chemical reaction. The same kind and number of atoms in the reactants must appear in the products, meaning atoms are conserved. 2) A correct formula of a compound can not be changed by altering or placement of subscripts. Changing subscripts changes the identity of a compound and the meaning of the entire equation. 3) A coefficient in front of a formula multiplies everything in the formula by that number. There are also a few generalizations that can be helpful for success in balancing equations: 1. Use a one as a coefficient when you balance a particular atom instead of not writing a coefficient so that you will remember that the compound has a one in front of it. 2. Look first to formulas of compounds with the most atoms and try to balance the or compounds they were formed from or decomposed to. 3. Polyatomic ions that appear on both sides of the equation should be treated as independent units with a charge. That is, consider the polyatomic ions as a unit while taking an inventory rather than the individual atoms making up the polyatomic ion. This will save time, frustration, and simplify the procedure. Try the following: P4 + O2 P4O10 S8 + O2 SO2 Ca + O2 CaO Fe + O2 Fe2O3 Combustion Reactions Burning a fuel in oxygen produces heat and light. Example: Alkane + O2 CO2 + H2O (products of complete combustion.) C3H8 + O2 C4H10 + O2 Balancing Ionic Equations CaCrO4 Na2SO4 + + NaCl AlP CO2 CO2 + + H2O H2O + + CaCl2 Al2(SO4)3

Na2CrO4 Na3P

Mass Relationships in Chemical Reactions: Stoichiometry (Chap 10) Balance the following equation. Show how mass is balanced. P4 + Cl2 PCl3 Mass of A Moles of A Moles of B Mass of B (1 mole = Molar Mass in g) (mole ratio) (1 mole = Molar Mass in g) What mass of oxygen, O2, is required to completely combust 454 g of propane, C3H8? What masses of CO2 and H2O are produced? C3H8 + 5 O2 3 CO2 + 4 H2O Here are some basic steps that help when you balance chemical equations. 1. Leave any type of atoms that are present in their elemental state alone until the end. This is particularly true if one of the elements is written as a single atom. (For example Na) 2. Start by balancing an element that appears in only one reactant and one product. This ratio is fixed, and cant change when you change

the coefficients. 3. Once these are balanced go to the most complicated looking compound. (Hopefully you have already taken care of this compound in the previous step.) 4. Adjust the amount of polyatomic elements (such as S5 or O2) 5. Adjust the amount of any element that appears as a single atom. Keep in mind that you cannot change the compounds and elements that are reacting. This means all of the subscripts must remain unchanged. *This is meant to help when you are practicing balancing chemical equations. For background information, or to check vocabulary you are unsure of, check the lecture slides. K + O2 K2O Solution: Step 1: On the left side of the equation there are 2 oxygen atoms and on the right side of the equation there is one oxygen atoms. Multiply K2O by the coefficient of 2 to balance the oxygen atoms. K + O2 2K2O Step 2: Balance the K by placing the coefficient of 4 in front of K 4K + O2 2K2O Step 3: Check that all the atoms balance and make sure that all coefficients are in the lowest-possible ratio. Fe + O2 Fe2O3 C5H12 + O2 CO2 + H2O Solution: Step 1: Start with C. To balance the C put the coefficient of 5 for CO2 C5H12 + O2 5CO2 + H2O Step 2: Then, balance the H by placing the coefficient of 6 for H2O C5H12 + O2 5CO2 + 6H2O Step 3: Lastly, balance the O by placing the coefficient of 8 for O2 C5H12 + 8O2 5CO2 + 6H2O Step 4: Check that all the atoms balance and make sure that all coefficients are in the lowest-possible ratio. CH3OH + O2 H2O + CO2 Unbalanced Equation:- C3H8 + O2 ---> H2O + CO2 Balanced Equation:- C3H8 + 5O2 ---> 4H2O + 3CO2