Balancing Chemical reactions

W. A. CHALANI WIJESURENDRA
DEMO SLIDES
(PG 90-93 OF G10 SCIENCE TEXTBOOK)
LADIES’ COLLEGE, COL 07.
08/09/2023
Chemical equations

 Reactant + Reactant -> Product + Product

 A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a chemical reaction using chemical

formulae.
 When writing chemical equations in the standard form, reactants are written on the left hand
side and the products on the right hand side.
 An arrow indicates the direction of a reaction.

Eg. Magnesium + Oxygen -> Magnesium oxide

Mg + O2 -> MgO
 Balancing equations by using “Inspection
method”

 This method involves balancing equations by looking at how many atoms you have on each side of the
equation and only adding coefficients to the molecules to balance out the number of atoms.
Balancing chemical equations

 Step 1
Count the number of atoms on each side of the reaction.

 Step 2
Only change the coefficients.
Balance atoms present in a single molecule reactant and product first.
Balance any oxygen or hydrogen atoms last.

 Step 3 – Dealing with polyatomic ions

Count polyatomic ions as one item.

 Step 4
Count all atoms on each side.
Balancing equations
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Balancing equations
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Balancing equations
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Balancing equations
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Balancing equations
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Balancing equations
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Balancing equations
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Balancing equations
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Balancing equations
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Balancing equations
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Exercise:

 Na + O2 -> Na2O
 Al + O2 -> Al2O3
 N2+ H2 -> NH3
 H2+ O2 -> H2O
 KClO3 -> KCl + O2
Q &A
Thank you!