The Rules of Balancing Equations

# of atoms of each element on each side of equation must be equal.

Must follow the Law of Conservation of mass

- Mass is neither created or destroyed, mass of reactants = mass of products

Tricks
o Water Trick
o Polyatomic ions
o Common denominator FIRST!!!
o Substances in 2 places on one side of equation

Here are some suggestions.

1. Single element in the largest compound

Pick out the compound with the most atoms
Choose an element within the compound that is not hydrogen or
oxygen
Do not pick the polyatomic ion initially
2. Polyatomic Ions
Next, balance the polyatomic ions that remain the same on both
sides
3. Hydrogen and oxygen atoms
Balance the hydrogen (H) atoms and THEN the oxygen (O) atoms
4. Whole number coefficients and lowest ratio
Make sure that the coefficients used are all whole numbers and
that the coefficients are reduced to their lowest terms.
5. Recheck

**We are not allowed to change any subscripts in a chemical equation**

**We balance a chemical equation by placing a whole-number coefficient in front of

each substance**

Coefficients: Number or symbol that represents the # of moles in a balanced chemical

equation
 General Guidelines for Balancing a Chemical Equation

1. Do not change any subscripts to balance a chemical equation. Use

coefficients to balance out the atoms on both sides of the equation
2. List elements and determine the # of each element on reactant
versus the product side. Multiply an elements subscript times its
coefficient to determine the # of atoms of each element is present
on each side
3. If OH is on one side and H2O is on the other side, change water to
H(OH) and balance the number of OHs on both sides.
4. If the same polyatomic ion exist on both sides of the equation, than
balance the polyatomic ions as a single unit
5. Substances in 2 places on one side of equation should be balanced
LAST!

Best way to learn how to balance chemical

equations is to practice, practice, practice
Practice problems:

1. Al(s) + 3O2(g) Al2O3(s)

2. Pb(NO3)2(aq) + KI(aq) PbI2(s) + KNO3(aq)

3. Ca(C2H3O2)2(aq) + K3PO4(aq) Ca3(PO4)2(s) + KC2H3O2(aq)

4. Oxygen gas plus nitrogen gas to give nitrogen dioxide gas

5. Beryllium iodide plus tin(II) nitrate to give beryllium nitrate and

tin(II) iodide

6. Ammonium sulfate plus lead(II) chlorate to give ammonium chlorate

and lead(II) sulfate

7. Cobalt(III) hydrogen carbonate decomposes by heating to give

cobalt(III)carbonate, water and carbon dioxide

8. Magnesium sulfate reacts with Iron(II)chloride to form Iron(III)

sulfate and magnesium chloride

9. Al + H2SO4 Al2(SO4)3 + H2

10. Be2C + H2O Be(OH)2 + CH4

11. NH3 + CuO Cu + N2 + H2O

12. Al2(SO3)3 + NaOH Na2SO3 + Al(OH)3

13. ** S + HNO3 H2SO4 + NO2 + H2O

14. ** Cu + HNO3 Cu(NO3)2 + NO + H 2O

15. Calcium hydroxide and phosphoric acid react to form calcium

phosphate and water

16. Sodium phosphate and calcium chloride reacts to form Sodium

chloride and calcium phosphate

17. Aluminum bromide and chlorine react to form aluminum chloride and
bromine

18. C5H12 + O2 CO2 + H2O

19. BN + F2 BF3 + O2

20. CaCO3 + H3PO4 Ca3(PO4)2 + H2CO3

21. Fe + H2O Fe3O4 + H2

22. ** C2H6 + O2 CO2 + H2O

23. ** FeS2 + O2 Fe2O3 + SO2

24. ** P4 + H2O H3PO4 + H2

25. C10H16 + Cl2 C + HCl

26. C7H10N + O2 CO2 + H2O + NO2

27. ** C7H16 + O2 CO2 + H2O