Balancing Chemical Equations
A balanced chemical equation is an equation in which the number of atoms of each element is equal (or balanced) on both sides of the equation. For example:
SnO2 + H2 → Sn + H2O
The equation above is unbalanced because there are 2 atoms of oxygen on the reactant side (left) of the equation, but only 1 on the product side (right).
In order to balance the equation, we simply write in the number of times we want the existing number of atoms to be multiplied by, in order for it to be equal to the number of atoms on the other side of the equation. Using the example above, we would add a "2" in front of the "H2O" on the product side. This multiplies the 1 oxygen atom by 2. Now there are 2 atoms of oxygen on either side of the equation. It looks like this:
SnO2 + H2 → Sn + 2H2O
Because the 2 we've added is also in front of the H2 part of the H2O, H2 also gets multiplied by 2. This means there are now 4 atoms of H on the right side of the equation, and only 2 on the left side. To fix this, we need to write in a 2 in front of the "H2" on the left side of the equation. This is what it will look like:
SnO2 + 2H2 → Sn + 2H2O
There is now:
This chemical equation is now balanced!
Extra Stuff
Videos
Balancing Chemical Equations (Very clearly explained)
Another Great Video (A little shorter than the first)
Worksheets
Use any of these worksheets to test yourself!
Worksheet #1 (50 questions!)
Worksheet #2 (Contains answers)
Worksheet #3 (Contains answers)
SnO2 + H2 → Sn + H2O
The equation above is unbalanced because there are 2 atoms of oxygen on the reactant side (left) of the equation, but only 1 on the product side (right).
In order to balance the equation, we simply write in the number of times we want the existing number of atoms to be multiplied by, in order for it to be equal to the number of atoms on the other side of the equation. Using the example above, we would add a "2" in front of the "H2O" on the product side. This multiplies the 1 oxygen atom by 2. Now there are 2 atoms of oxygen on either side of the equation. It looks like this:
SnO2 + H2 → Sn + 2H2O
Because the 2 we've added is also in front of the H2 part of the H2O, H2 also gets multiplied by 2. This means there are now 4 atoms of H on the right side of the equation, and only 2 on the left side. To fix this, we need to write in a 2 in front of the "H2" on the left side of the equation. This is what it will look like:
SnO2 + 2H2 → Sn + 2H2O
There is now:
- 1 atom of tin on either side of the equation
- 4 atoms of hydrogen on either side of the equation
- 2 atoms of oxygen on either side of the equation
This chemical equation is now balanced!
Extra Stuff
Videos
Balancing Chemical Equations (Very clearly explained)
Another Great Video (A little shorter than the first)
Worksheets
Use any of these worksheets to test yourself!
Worksheet #1 (50 questions!)
Worksheet #2 (Contains answers)
Worksheet #3 (Contains answers)