NAME:

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS
Zia has sent back samples of the purple slime from behind enemy lines to our scientists at the
Sci-Ops headquarters. To better understand what harm the purple slime is causing our planet, our
scientists have been testing it to find out what it is made up of. Now, we need your help balancing
chemical equations. Use the Field Guide: Balancing Chemical Equations and the Reading Passage:
Chemical Reactions for additional support.

Disposal of Unkown Chemicals

Stargazer How to balance a chemical equation...

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STEPS FOR BALANCING A CHEMICAL EQUATION

STEP 1: Identify each of the unique elements in a given chemical equation and list them in a
table. To determine if they are equal to each other, count how many atoms of each element
are present on both sides of the equation and list them in the same table.

STEP 2: If there are any atom counts that do not match, add coefficients in front of the
formula(s) containing the element(s) that need to be adjusted in order to balance the
equation. Only whole numbers can be used as coefficients.

STEP 3: Continue adding coefficients in front of any other chemical formulas, as needed, until
the same number of atoms for each element are equal on both sides of the equation.

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 SCI-OPERATIVE REPORT
Complete the Sci-Operative Report below by balancing the chemical equations.
It is imperative that we understand the chemicals that are in the purple slime.
Dr. Joshi completed the first one before being called away.
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rs in t
Experiment 1: ato m appea
an add
When pound
s, you
The purple slime was mixed with a solution of sodium hydroxide ent c o m
each
differ a toms in
(NaOH) and sodium chloride (NaCl) was detected as a product. mber
o f
is
e nu . In 
The reaction that had most likely taken place is listed below. to g eer
compo
un d n atom
Balance the equation. 1 hy droge
is
ere actan
ts
case, f e re
h o
in eac f 2
total o
for a
1 HCl + 1 NaOH 1 NaCl + 1 H2O hydro
gen at
oms.

Reactants Atom Balanced

Element Products Atom Count
Count (Yes/No)

H 1+1=2 2 Yes

Cl 1 1 Yes

Na 1 1 Yes

O 1 1 Yes

Experiment 2:
For this experiment, the purple slime was dissolved in benzene. Once dissolved, carbon
dioxide (CO2) gas was bubbled through this solution and a solid to precipitated out. Through
lab analysis, the solid was found to be silver carbonate (Ag2CO3). The reaction that had most
likely taken place is listed below. Balance the equation.

Ag2O + CO2 Ag2CO3

Element Reactants Atom Count Products Atom Count

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Experiment 3:
The purple slime was exposed to an open flame and combustion was observed. The two
main products that were collected were water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2), meaning a
hydrocarbon is present in the purple slime. The reaction that had most likely taken place is
listed below. Balance the equation.

C3H8 + O2 CO2 + H2O

Element Reactants Atom Count Products Atom Count

Experiment 4:
When treated with hot concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4), the purple slime began to bubble
vigorously and a transparent blue layer of liquid formed at the bottom of the beaker. After
analysis, it was found that copper (II) sulfate (CuSO4) had formed. The reaction that had most
likely taken place is listed below. Balance the equation.

Cu + H2SO4 CuSO4 + SO2 + H2O

Element Reactants Atom Count Products Atom Count

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 Experiment 5:
For this last experiment, the purple slime was treated with potassium iodide (KI) and a
brilliant yellow precipitate formed. After analysis, it was found that the yellow precipitate
was lead iodide (PbI2). The reaction that had most likely taken place is listed below. Balance
the equation.

Kl + Pb(NO3)2 Pbl2 + KNO3

Element Reactants Atom Count Products Atom Count

Use your Sci-Operative Report to complete the detailed Report Analysis

REPORT ANALYSIS
1 Explain, in your own words, how a chemical equation is balanced.

2 In terms of the Law of Conservation of Matter, why are chemical equations balanced?

3 How do chemical reactions obey the LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MATTER?

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4 Is the following chemical reaction balanced or unbalanced?
Mixture Before Reaction Mixture After Reaction

Identify the type of reaction for each of the experiments in the Sci-Operative Report.

Experiment 1

Experiment 2

Experiment 3

Experiment 4

Experiment 5

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