Balanced Chemical Equations

The chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a chemical reaction. According to the law of conservation of mass, the quantity of each element does not change in a chemical reaction. Therefore, each side of the chemical equation should provide the same amount of a particular element. Therefore, a balancing equation is needed to present the same charge presented on both sides. 

By changing the scalar number, one can balance the chemical equation properly for each chemical formula. This technique needs various solutions and solving steps. This Balanced chemical equations study material will provide a detailed discussion on the formation of chemical reactions, the concept and example of Balanced chemical equations, and various methods of Balanced chemical equations. 

These Study material notes on Balanced chemical equations s will help the students better understand the balancing formula and technique of Balanced chemical equations.

Formation of chemical reaction

A chemical equation contains a chemical formula of chemical products and reactants. Two formulas are separated by the symbol of the arrow in the middle. Each substance formula separated each other forms by applying plus signs. 

For example, the equation of hydrochloric acid and sodium can be denoted as –

NaOH(aq)+ 2HCI (aq)          NaCI(aq) +2H20 (I).

This equation indicates the HCl  and sodium reacted to form NaCl and H2. This also explains that two sodium molecules are required for making two hydrochloric acid molecules. The reaction will form two sodium chloride molecules and one molecule, diatomic of hydrogen. 

Now for this equation, a balancing formulation is required to make it a properly balanced chemical equation, as sometimes some equation formation fails to provide the right amount of molecules in each group.

Concept of Balanced chemical equations

According to the law of conservation of mass, the quantity of any element does not change during a chemical reaction. Therefore, each side of the chemical equation should hold an equal amount of molecules after the reaction. Thus, to balance the equation, the same charges must be presented on both sides of the equation. If the equation does not have the same charges on both sides, then the reaction equation should be considered an imbalanced formulation, and therefore, it should be balanced.

Balanced formulas are often written with the smallest coefficient, the whole number. If there is no coefficient number written before the formula, the coefficient value should be 1. The balanced chemical equations should be formed by the inspection method. This can be done by putting 1 coefficient in front of the most complex element while another coefficient is written on the other side of the arrow to balance the equation. If any fractional coefficient exists, it should be multiplied to balance the frictional coefficient in a whole number.

For example, if burning methane should be balanced by putting a coefficient 1 in the equation, before CH4, it will be 1 CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O. As there is one atom of carbon on each side, the first carbon equation is balanced. In this way, the whole formulation should be balanced by putting the proper coefficient before the atoms to balance the entire equation.

Method of balancing chemical equations

Balancing chemical equations includes 3 steps.

1. Understand the imbalanced equation,
2. Balance the equation
3. Indicate the state of matters

Let’s discuss this by applying the examples for it.

Imbalance equation: SnO2 + 2H2 → Sn + 2H2O

Balance the equation: look at the above equation, and identify which elements are not balanced. For example, there are two oxygen molecules in this equation, on the left-hand side, and on the other side, there is only 1. To balance the equation, coefficient 2 has to be put before the H2O. Therefore the equation will be SnO2 + H2 → Sn + 2 H2O.

The hydrogen atoms need to be balanced, buying 2 hydrogen coefficients before H. So the balanced formulation will be, SnO2 + 2 H2 → Sn + 2 H2O.

Indicate the physical states: now, for his last steps, you need to be sure and learn about the physical appearance of the components. Oxides are solid (s); hydrogen is gas (g), water vapour is gas, and tin is solid. Therefore, one should denote the reaction as,

SnO2 (s) + 2 H2 (g) → Sn (s) + 2 H2O (g).

Conclusion

For that kind of equation, some equation involves ions, and then it is required to balance the ions and mass. Chemical equations should always be balanced as the elements don’t change the numbers or quantity of atoms after any bonding or formation through the reaction. So it must be presented as balanced from both sides of the equation to make it the proper formation of any chemical reaction.

This Balanced chemical equations study material has provided examples of all steps on balancing an equation. Also, these Study material notes on Balanced chemical equations s will provide a concept of chemical formulation and equation to the students and provide a clear vision on balancing the equation of different elements.