How to “Read” Chemical Equations

2 Mg + O2 2 MgO

2 atoms Mg + 1 molecule O2 makes 2 formula units MgO

2 moles Mg + 1 mole O2 makes 2 moles MgO
48.6 grams Mg + 32.0 grams O2 makes 80.6 g MgO

NOT
2 grams Mg + 1 gram O2 makes 2 g MgO

1
 Balancing Chemical Equations

1. Write the correct formula(s) for the reactants on

the left side and the correct formula(s) for the
product(s) on the right side of the equation.
Ethane reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water

C2H6 + O2 CO2 + H2O

2. Change the numbers in front of the formulas

(coefficients) to make the number of atoms of
each element the same on both sides of the
equation. Do not change the subscripts.
2C2H6 NOT C4H12
2
 Balancing Chemical Equations

3. Start by balancing those elements that appear in

only one reactant and one product.
C2H6 + O2 CO2 + H2O start with C or H but not O

2 carbon 1 carbon
multiply CO2 by 2
on left on right

C2H6 + O2 2CO2 + H2O

6 hydrogen 2 hydrogen
on left on right multiply H2O by 3

C2H6 + O2 2CO2 + 3H2O

3
 Balancing Chemical Equations

4. Balance those elements that appear in two or

more reactants or products.
7
C2H6 + O2 2CO2 + 3H2O multiply O2 by
2

2 oxygen 4 oxygen + 3 oxygen = 7 oxygen

on left (2x2) (3x1) on right

7 remove fraction
C2H6 + O2 2CO2 + 3H2O
2 multiply both sides by 2

2C2H6 + 7O2 4CO2 + 6H2O

4
 Balancing Chemical Equations

5. Check to make sure that you have the same

number of each type of atom on both sides of the
equation.
2C2H6 + 7O2 4CO2 + 6H2O

4 C (2 x 2) 4C

12 H (2 x 6) 12 H (6 x 2)

14 O (7 x 2) 14 O (4 x 2 + 6)
Reactants Products

4C 4C
12 H 12 H
14 O 14 O

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 Amounts of Reactants and Products

1. Write balanced chemical equation

2. Convert quantities of known substances into moles
3. Use coefficients in balanced equation to calculate the number of moles of
the sought quantity
4. Convert moles of sought quantity into desired units

6
 Methanol burns in air according to the equation

2CH3OH + 3O2 2CO2 + 4H2O

If 209 g of methanol are used up in the combustion, what mass of water is
produced?

grams CH3OH moles CH3OH moles H2O grams H2O

molar mass coefficients molar mass

CH3OH chemical equation H2O

1 mol CH3OH 4 mol H2O 18.0 g H2O

209 g CH3OH x x x =
32.0 g CH3OH 2 mol CH3OH 1 mol H2O

235 g H2O

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Sample Problem 3.7 Balancing Chemical Equations

PROBLEM: Within the cylinders of a car’s engine, the hydrocarbon octane (C8H18),
one of many components of gasoline, mixes with oxygen from the air
and burns to form carbon dioxide and water vapor. Write a balanced
equation for this reaction.

PLAN: SOLUTION:
translate the statement C8H18 + O2 CO2 + H2O

balance the atoms C8H18 +25/2 O2 8 CO2 + 9 H2O

adjust the coefficients 2C8H18 + 25O2 16CO2 + 18H2O

check the atom balance 2C8H18 + 25O2 16CO2 + 18H2O

specify states of matter 2C8H18(l) + 25O2 (g) 16CO2 (g) + 18H2O (g)
Figure 3.8 Summary of the mass-mole-number relationships in a
chemical reaction.

MASS(g) MASS(g)
of compound A of compound B

M (g/mol) of M (g/mol) of
compound A compound B

molar ratio from

AMOUNT(mol) AMOUNT(mol)
of compound A of compound B
balanced equation
Avogadro’s number Avogadro’s number
(molecules/mol) (molecules/mol)

MOLECULES MOLECULES
(or formula units) (or formula units)
of compound A of compound B
Sample Problem 3.8 Calculating Amounts of Reactants and Products

PROBLEM: In a lifetime, the average American uses 1750 lb(794 g) of copper in

coins, plumbing, and wiring. Copper is obtained from sulfide ores,
such as chalcocite, or copper(I) sulfide, by a multistep process. After
an initial grinding, the first step is to “roast” the ore (heat it strongly
with oxygen gas) to form powdered copper(I) oxide and gaseous
sulfur dioxide.
(a) How many moles of oxygen are required to roast 10.0 mol of
copper(I) sulfide?
(b) How many grams of sulfur dioxide are formed when 10.0 mol of
copper(I) sulfide is roasted?
(c) How many kilograms of oxygen are required to form 2.86 kg of
copper(I) oxide?

PLAN: write and balance equation

find mols O2 find mols SO2 find mols Cu2O

find g SO2 find mols O2 find kg O2

 Sample Problem 3.8 Calculating Amounts of Reactants and Products
continued

SOLUTION: 2 Cu2S(s) + 3 O2(g) 2 Cu2O(s) + 2 SO2 (g)

(a) How many moles of oxygen are required to roast 10.0 mol of copper(I) sulfide?
3 mol O2
(a) 10.0 mol Cu2S = 15.0 mol O2
2 mol Cu2S
(b) How many grams of sulfur dioxide are formed when 10.0 mol of copper(I) sulfide is roasted?

(b) 10.0 mol Cu2S 2 mol SO2 64.07 g SO2

= 641 g SO2
2 mol Cu2S mol SO2
(c) How many kilograms of oxygen are required to form 2.86 kg of copper(I) oxide?

(c) 2.86 kg Cu2O 103 g Cu2O mol Cu2O

= 20.0 mol Cu2O
kg Cu2O 143.10 g Cu2O

3 mol O2 32.00g O2 kg O2
20.0 mol Cu2O = 0.959kg O2
2 mol Cu2O mol O2 103g O2