Download For Regular: Chapter 8 Notes

Balancing Chemical Equations
Chapter 8
A process in which one or more substances is changed into one
or more new substances is a chemical reaction
A chemical equation uses chemical symbols to show what
happens during a chemical reaction
3 ways of representing the reaction of H2 with O2 to form H2O
reactants
products
3.7
How to “Read” Chemical Equations
2 Mg + O2
2 MgO
2 atoms Mg + 1 molecule O2 makes 2 formula units MgO
2 moles Mg + 1 mole O2 makes 2 moles MgO
48.6 grams Mg + 32.0 grams O2 makes 80.6 g MgO
IS NOT
2 grams Mg + 1 gram O2 makes 2 g MgO
3.7
Balancing Chemical Equations
1. Write the correct formula(s) for the reactants on
the left side and the correct formula(s) for the
product(s) on the right side of the equation.
Ethane reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water
C2H6 + O2
CO2 + H2O
2. Change the numbers in front of the formulas
(coefficients) to make the number of atoms of
each element the same on both sides of the
equation. Do not change the subscripts.
2C2H6
NOT
C4H12
3.7
Balancing Chemical Equations
3. Start by balancing those elements that appear in
only one reactant and one product.
C2H6 + O2
2 carbon
on left
C2H6 + O2
6 hydrogen
on left
C2H6 + O2
CO2 + H2O
start with C or H but not O
1 carbon
on right
multiply CO2 by 2
2CO2 + H2O
2 hydrogen
on right
2CO2 + 3H2O
multiply H2O by 3
3.7
Balancing Chemical Equations
4. Balance those elements that appear in two or
more reactants or products.
C2H6 + O2
2 oxygen
on left
2CO2 + 3H2O
multiply O2 by 7
2
4 oxygen + 3 oxygen = 7 oxygen
(3x1)
on right
(2x2)
C2H6 + 7 O2
2
2CO2 + 3H2O
2C2H6 + 7O2
4CO2 + 6H2O
remove fraction
multiply both sides by 2
3.7
Balancing Chemical Equations
5. Check to make sure that you have the same
number of each type of atom on both sides of the
equation.
2C2H6 + 7O2
4CO2 + 6H2O
12
4 CH
(2
6)
14
O(2
(7xx2)
2)
4(6
C
2)6)
1412
OH
(4
x 2x +
Reactants
4C
12 H
14 O
Products
4C
12 H
14 O
3.7