| Themes > Science > Chemistry > Inorganic Chemistry > Chemical Reaction , Chemical Formulas , Chemical Equation > Chemical Reaction > Determining What Is Reacting > Balancing Equations |
In a chemical reaction, matter cannot be created nor destroyed. For example in the reaction...
there are 2 atoms of hydrogen and 2 atoms of chlorine on the reactants side, but only one atom of hydrogen and chlorine on the products side. To fix this problem and to follow the rule that matter cannot be created nor destroyed, we must balance the equation. By balancing the equation, you must have equal numbers of each of the different atoms on both the reactants and the products sides. To balance equations, there are a few rules that must be followed. First, locate the most complex compound and start balancing each of the different atoms (saving oxygen and hydrogen for last). For example,
1. Start with NaCl. (This is the most complex compound because HCl has hydrogen in it and we save that for last.) 2. There is one atom of sodium on each side so move on to the chlorine. 3. There is one atom of chlorine on each side, so move on to the HCl. 4. There is one atom of hydrogen in HCl and two atoms of hydrogen on the reactants side, so put a 1/2 coefficient in front of H2, so there is only one atom of hydrogen on each side.
5. There can't be fractions in the final answer so multiply all the coefficients by 2 as to eliminate the 1/2 coefficient.
|
|
|