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Balancing Equations Notes

The document provides notes on balancing chemical equations, emphasizing the Law of Conservation of Mass which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. It illustrates the process of balancing an equation using the example of hydrogen and oxygen reacting to form water, detailing how to adjust coefficients to achieve balance. The final balanced equation presented is 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O.

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10 views3 pages

Balancing Equations Notes

The document provides notes on balancing chemical equations, emphasizing the Law of Conservation of Mass which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. It illustrates the process of balancing an equation using the example of hydrogen and oxygen reacting to form water, detailing how to adjust coefficients to achieve balance. The final balanced equation presented is 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O.

Uploaded by

musendomakanaka08
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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S.

CHIMANIKIRE MacAllister Mabhureki CHINHOYI 2 HIGH SCHOOL 2018

BALANCING EQUATIONS NOTES:

Balancing Equations Notes:

Chemical equations must be balanced on both sides


according to the Law of Conservation of Mass,
which says that matter cannot be created or
destroyed. Therefore, atoms that are present on one
side of the equation must be present on the other
side as well.

Example:
H2 + O2  H2O
Reactant Product

This equation is unbalanced. Count your atoms on


each side!

Reactant side (left):


H=2
O=2
Product side (right):
H=2
O=1

*To balance an equation, you can ONLY change


the coefficient (the big number) at the front of the
compound!
[Link] MacAllister Mabhureki CHINHOYI 2 HIGH SCHOOL 2018

BALANCING EQUATIONS NOTES:

We can add a coefficient of 2 in front of the H2O to


get 2 O’s. It will look like this 2H2O
*The coefficient gets multiplied with the
subscripts* so then we have 4 hydrogens.

Let’s recount our atoms again!

H2 + O2  2H2O

Reactant side:
H=2
O=2
Product side:
H=4
O=2

The equation is still unbalanced. Remember we can


ONLY change the coefficient.
How about add a coefficient of 2 in front of the H2.
*The coefficient gets multiplied with the
subscripts* so you have 4 hydrogens.

Let’s recount our atoms again!


[Link] MacAllister Mabhureki CHINHOYI 2 HIGH SCHOOL 2018

BALANCING EQUATIONS NOTES:

2H2 + O2  2H2O

Reactant side:
H=4
O=2
Product side:
H=4
O=2

The new balanced equation: 2H2 + O2  2H2O

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