Chemical Equations

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Balancing Chemical Equations
• In a balanced equation, the total number of atoms of each
element present is the same on both sides of the equation.
• An equation can be balanced only by adjusting the
coefficients of formulas.
• The coefficients required to balance a chemical equation are
called stoichiometric coefficients.

𝐶 𝐻 4 +𝑂 2 →𝐶 𝑂 2+ 𝐻 2 𝑂
 
Unbalanced

𝐶 𝐻 4 +𝑂
 
2 2 →𝐶 𝑂 2+2𝐻 2 𝑂 Balanced
Stoichiometric Coefficients
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Balancing Chemical Equations
1. If an element occurs in only one compound on
each side of the equation, try balancing this
element first.
2. When one of the reactants or products exists as
the free element, balance this element last.
3. In some reactions, certain groups of atoms (for
example, polyatomic ions) remain unchanged. In
such cases, balance these groups as a unit.
4. Check your answer by making sure that the
numbers and kinds of atoms are the same on
both sides of the equation.
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Example 1
• 
NH3 + O2  N2 + H2O

2 NH3 + O2  N2 + H2O

2 NH3 + O2  N2 + 3 H2O

2 NH3 + O2  N2 + 3 H2O (balanced)

4 NH3 + 3 O2  2 N2 + 6 H2O (balanced)

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Example 2: Combustion of an
Organic Molecule
• 
• C6H14O4 + O2  CO2 + H2O

• C6H14O4 + O2  6 CO2 + H2O

• C6H14O4 + O2  6 CO2 + 7H2O

• C6H14O4 + O2  6 CO2 + 7H2O

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Balance the following:
• C3H8 + O2  CO2 + H2O (combustion of
propane)

• KClO3 + C12H22O11  KCl + CO2 + H2O

• NH3 + Cl2  N2H4 + NH4Cl (synthesis of

hydrazine for rocket fuel)

• C6H12O6 C2H6O + CO2 (fermentation of

sugar to yield ethyl alcohol)
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