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This article was co-written by Bess Ruff, MA. Bess Ruff is a graduate student in geography at Florida. She received her Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UC Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the coastal area. Caribbean and support research as a contributor to the Sustainable Fisheries Group.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 477,141 times.
Are you looking to learn more about chemical equations? At first glance, chemical equations may seem confusing, but they are actually very simple when you know the basic steps and principles for balancing. Don’t worry – this article will help you with any problem, no matter how many atoms and molecules are in the equation. What about complex equations? Scroll down to the second section for a guide to help you deal with difficult equations through algebraic balance.
Steps
Balancing equations the traditional way
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Write the equation on paper. In this example, you have the equation:
- C 3 H 8 + O 2 –> H 2 O + CO 2
- This reaction occurs when propane (C3H8) is burned in oxygen to produce water and carbon dioxide.
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Write down the atomic number of each element. You need to do this for both sides of the equation. See the subscript next to each atom for the number of atoms in the equation. As you write, you’d better compare the original equation to see each element clearly. [1] X Research Source
- For example, you have 3 oxygens on the right, but that’s because you add up the total.
- Left: 3 carbon (C3), 8 hydrogen (H8) and 2 oxygen (O2).
- Right: 1 carbon (C), 2 hydrogen (H2) and 3 oxygen (O + O2).
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Balance hydrogen and oxygen last, as they are usually on both sides. Hydrogen and oxygen are common molecules, so you’ll often find them on both sides of the equation. It’s best to balance them last. [2] X Research Source
- You need to count the atoms again before balancing the hydrogen and oxygen, because you need to use the correlation coefficient to balance the other atoms in the equation.
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Start with single elements. If the left side has more than one element to balance, you would choose the element as one molecule of reactant and one molecule of product. That means you need to balance the carbon atom first. [3] X Research Sources
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Use the correlation coefficient to balance the single carbon atom. Add the correlation number to the single carbon atom on the right side of the equation to balance the three carbons on the left hand side. [4] X Research Sources
- C 3 H 8 + O 2 –> H 2 O + 3 CO 2
- A coefficient of 3 before carbon on the right indicates 3 carbons, similarly, a subscript 3 on the left indicates 3 carbons.
- In a chemical equation, you can change the correlation coefficient, but you cannot change the subscript.
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The next step is to balance the hydrogen atom. Since you have balanced the entire atom besides the hydrogen and oxygen, you can now deal with the hydrogen atom. You have 8 atoms on the left side, so you need 8 atoms on the right side. Use the correlation coefficient to do this. [5] X Research Sources
- C 3 H 8 + O 2 –> 4 H 2 O + 3CO 2
- On the right hand side, you have now added a factor of 4 because the lower number indicates you already have 2 hydrogen atoms.
- When you multiply the factor 4 by the subscript 2, you get 8.
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Balance the oxygen atom. Remember to count the coefficients you used to balance the other atoms. Since you have added correlation coefficients to the molecules on the right hand side of the equation, the number of oxygen atoms has changed. You now have 4 oxygen atoms in the water molecule and 6 oxygen atoms in the carbon dioxide molecule. Thus, you have a total of 10 oxygen atoms. [6] X Research Source
- Add a factor of 5 to the oxygen molecule on the left side of the equation. You now have 10 oxygen atoms on each side.
- C 3 H 8 + 5 O 2 –> 4H 2 O + 3CO 2 .
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- You have 6 other oxygen atoms from 3CO 2 .(3×2=6 oxygen atoms + 4 other atoms = 10).
Balancing Equations Algebraically
This method is also known as the Bottomley method, and is useful for complex reactions, but will take more time.
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Write the equation on paper. For example, you have the equation:
- PCl 5 + H 2 O –> H 3 PO 4 + HCl
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Add a letter for each element.
- a PCl 5 + b H 2 O –> c H 3 PO 4 + d HCl
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Count the number of each element on both sides, and write an equal expression. [7] X Research Sources
- a PCl 5 + b H 2 O –> c H 3 PO 4 + d HCl
- The left side has 2 b hydrogen atoms (2 for each H 2 O molecule), and the right side has 3 c + d hydrogen atoms (3 for each H 3 PO 4 molecule and 1 for each H 3 PO 4 molecule). HCl molecule). Since the number of hydrogen atoms on both sides must be equal, 2 b must be equal to 3 c + d .
- Do this for each element.
- P: a = c
- Cl: 5 a = d
- H: 2 b = 3 c + d
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Solve the equation to find the numerical value for the entire correlation coefficient. Since the equation has many variables, you also have many solutions. You have to find a solution so that each variable becomes the smallest integer.
- To solve equations quickly, you will set a value to a variable. For example a = 1. The next thing is to solve the equation to get the following values:
- Since P: a = c, then c = 1.
- Since Cl: 5a = d, d = 5
- Since H: 2b = 3c + d, b is calculated as:
- 2b = 3(1) + 5
- 2b = 3 + 5
- 2b = 8
- b=4
- You will have the following values:
- a = 1
- b = 4
- c = 1
- d = 5
- If the value you specify becomes a fraction, you simply multiply the entire correlation coefficient (including the factor 1) by the least common multiple of the denominator to make the value an integer. If there is only one fraction, you multiply the entire correlation coefficient by the numerator of the fraction.
- If the value you specified becomes the greatest common divisor, you will simplify the chemical equation by dividing each correlation coefficient (including the factor 1) by the greatest common divisor.
Advice
- If you’re having trouble, you can balance the equation with an online balancer. However, keep in mind that you can’t use an online equation balancer when taking the test, so don’t rely on it.
- Remember to simplify the equation! If the whole correlation coefficient is divisible by the same number, do this for the most minimalist result.
- To drop a fraction, you simply multiply the entire coefficient in the equation (left and right sides) by the fraction’s denominator.
Warning
- While balancing the equation, you will probably need the help of fractions, but the equation remains unbalanced as long as the coefficients are in the form of fractions. You cannot use half a molecule or half an atom in a chemical reaction.
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This article was co-written by Bess Ruff, MA. Bess Ruff is a graduate student in geography at Florida. She received her Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UC Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the coastal area. Caribbean and support research as a contributor to the Sustainable Fisheries Group.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 477,141 times.
Are you looking to learn more about chemical equations? At first glance, chemical equations may seem confusing, but they are actually very simple when you know the basic steps and principles for balancing. Don’t worry – this article will help you with any problem, no matter how many atoms and molecules are in the equation. What about complex equations? Scroll down to the second section for a guide to help you deal with difficult equations through algebraic balance.
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