5.1.12

Balancing Equations

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Balancing Chemical Equations

Chemical equations must be balanced to make sure that there is the same number of atoms of each element before and after a reaction. The reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to make water will be used as an example of how to do this:

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Unbalanced equation

  • The unbalanced symbol equation for this reaction is:
    • H2 + O2 → H2O
  • The equation is unbalanced because there are 2 atoms of oxygen on the left-hand side of the equation, but only 1 on the right-hand side.
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Still unbalanced equation

  • We can increase the number of oxygen atoms on the right-hand side by adding an H2O molecule:
    • H2 + O2 → 2H2O
  • However, the equation is still unbalanced as there are now more hydrogen atoms on the right-hand side than on the left-hand side.
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Balanced equation

  • The final step is to add an H2 molecule to the left hand side:
    • 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
  • Our equation is now balanced.

Jump to other topics

1States of Matter

2Elements, Compounds & Mixtures

3Atomic Structure

4The Periodic Table

5Chemical Formulae, Equations & Calculations

6Bonding

7Electrolysis

8Groups of the Periodic Table

9The Atmosphere

10Reactivity Series

11Metal Extraction

12Acids & Alkalis

13Chemical Tests

14Physical Chemistry

15Organic Chemistry

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