Balancing Chemical Equation – PhET Activity

Purpose: To see the Law of Conservation of Mass mathematically in chemical formulas

Background: The Law of Conservation of Mass states matter cannot be created or destroyed.

Go to https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/balancing-chemical-equations

Part 1– Introduction
Instructions: Under tools click on the balance. Use this tool to help you balance the amount of each element on each
side by changing the coefficients of the molecules. The arrows should turn yellow and a smiley face will appear.

Action Balanced Equation Particle View (draw what you see in Balance View (draw what you see
the white boxes) in the balances)
Make
Ammonia
____ N2 + ____ H2 🡪 ____ NH3

Separate
Water
___ H2O 🡪 ___ H2 + ___ O2

Combust
Methane
___ CH4 + ___ O2

🡪 ___ CO2 + ___ H2O

Now go to the game section and try the game, when you are done have the teacher verify the score on your screen
matches the score you write below. If you do not get the teachers signature you lose your points!

Part 2 – Game
Score Teacher Signature Needed Below

Level 1 / 10

Level 2 /10

Level 3 / 10
 CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS

1. In the simulation, were you able to use non-integer numbers (like ½ or 0.43) for the coefficients in a
balanced equation? Why do you think this is?

a) Which of the following are coefficients you could use in a balanced equation? (multiple answers)
☐½ ☐¾ ☐1 ☐2 ☐6 ☐9

2. a) What do you have to do to the coefficients of equation i below to get to equation ii?
i. 2 SnO2 + 4 H2 🡪 2 Sn + 4 H2O
ii. SnO2 + 2 H2 🡪 Sn + 2 H2O

b) Both equation i and ii are balanced, but equation i is the correct way to write the balanced equation.
Can you divide equation i by another factor and still have it be correct? Why or why not?
CHALLENGE QUESTIONS: BALANCE THE EQUATIONS BELOW.

i. ___ NaNO3 + ___ PbO 🡪 ___ Pb(NO3)2 + ___ Na2O

ii. ___ Ca3P2 + ___ H2O 🡪 ___Ca(OH)2 + ___ PH3

iii. ___Fe2O3 + ___ CO 🡪 ___Fe + ___ CO2

iv. ___NH3 + ___ O2 🡪 ___ NO2 + ___ H2O

v. ___FeS + ___O2 🡪 ___Fe2O3 + ___SO2

vi. ___ C3H6O2 + ___ O2 🡪 ___ CO2 + ___ H2O