SNC2D1/8 Name: __________________________ Date: _____________

 
BALANCING EQUATIONS – EXAMPLES 
Example 1​:​ When sulfuric acid reacts with barium chloride the products are hydrochloric acid (i.e, hydrogen
chloride, aqueous) and barium sulfate (a solid precipitate).

Step 1: Write the ​word equation​ for the reaction:

Step 2: Write the ​skeleton equation​ for the reaction (remembering that the ​hydrogen​ gas in the products will
be a ​diatomic molecule​):

Step 3: Count the number of atoms of each element for both the reactants and the products
Type of atom or ion # in the Reactants # in the Products
Ba
SO​4
Cl
H

Step 4: Balance the metal ions (i.e., the barium in this case, since we will leave the H until the end)

Step 5: Balance the non-metal ions (i.e., the sulfate in this case, which can be treated as a unit since it
appears in the products):

Step 6: Balance the hydrogen:

Step 6: Recount the atoms & ions to check your work:

Type of atom or ion # in the Reactants # in the Products
Ba
SO​4
Cl
H
SNC2D1/8 Name: __________________________ Date: _____________

Example 2​:​ Copper is added to silver nitrate it forms copper (II) nitrate and silver. (Silver has a valence of
positive one)

Step 1: Word Equation:

Step 2: Skeleton Equation:

Step 3: Count the atoms:

Type of atom # in the Reactants # in the Products
Cu
Ag
N
O

Step 4: Balanced Equation:

Step 5: Check:
Type of atom # in the Reactants # in the Products
Cu
Ag
N
O