What’s happening during a chemical reaction is symbolically represented by a chemical equation. A chemical equation shows how reactants react with each other to form products along with considering their quantities.
However, by only representing the symbols of the reactants and products involved the protocol of writing a chemical equation isn’t fulfilled. We must have to write it in a balanced form to accurately represent a chemical reaction.
Let’s learn in this article, how to balance a chemical equation step by step following all the protocols.
Components of a Chemical Equation
A chemical equation has two sides as they are separated by an arrow. The arrow represents the direction of the chemical reaction i.e. whether it’s a reversible reaction or an irreversible one.
Reactants
Specifically, the reactants are the substances that are present on the left side of the arrow in a chemical equation. Reactants are the entities that take part in the formulation of the product in a chemical reaction.
Products
While, the products are the entities that in a chemical equation are present on the right hand side of the arrow. These are the substances that are formed as a result when reactants react chemically with each other.
Balanced Chemical Equation
Balancing a chemical equation involves equalizing an atom's number in reactants and products in the equation. However, it must be noted that the formula of a compound or subscript written just after its symbol should remain unchanged while balancing a reaction.
Law of Conservation of Mass
According to the law of conservation of mass, the mass of the products must be equal to the mass of reactants at the end of a chemical reaction. Consequently, in the chemical process the amount of atoms in each element cannot deviate.
Therefore, it is necessary to balance the chemical equation, which indicates a chemical process. When the quantity of atoms on the reactant side is equivalent to the atoms on the product side, a balanced chemical equation takes place. Chemical equation balancer also helps to solve chemical equations
How to Balance a Chemical Equation?
So we learned what is a chemical equation, a balanced one and which law governs it, but how can we balance a chemical equation? For balancing a chemical equation, in the reactants and products both, the number of atoms of each element needs to be the same. Thus all it takes to balance a chemical is the right coefficients (numbers before each molecule).
It is better to begin with the atom that appears on one side the least no. of times. Then go to the atom which comes next on having the least atoms. Lastly, recount again the number of atoms on both sides of the arrow.
Step by Step Balancing Chemical Equation Process
Type and Number of Atoms
Find out all the elements present on both sides of the equation and identify their numbers as well. Once the equation has been balanced, the number of atoms on both sides of the equation must have to be the same.
Net Charge
Secondly, look if the net charge on both sides of the equation is equal to the sum of their respective net charges? Because when we balance the equation, the net charge on both sides of the equation should have to be equal on both sides. The number of rules are same but the new thing we can apply is equation balancer with steps. It will help you.
Balancing Coefficients
An easy approach is to start with an element that can be found in one compound on both sides of the equation. To ensure that the number of atoms of an element is equal on both sides of the equation, you can only change the number of coefficients. It is important to keep in mind that in order to balance an equation, you can only modify the coefficients, not the subscripts in the formula.
Repeat Steps with Each Element
As soon as you have achieved balancing with one element, repeat the process with another element. Continue these steps until all of the elements are balanced. Just be sure to have an equal number of atoms of each element when balancing it on both sides.
Lastly, double-check your work to ensure that the charge on both sides of the equation is also equal.
Wrapping Up
A chemical equation is a great way to represent what is going on in a chemical reaction. Usually a chemical reaction constitutes the reactants and products. In order to represent an equation in standard we have to write it in balanced form. And in order to balance a chemical equation we evaluate no. of atoms for each element and start balancing their coefficients on both sides. Moreover, during balancing of our chemical equation we can’t change the number of superscripts. if you want to balance complex chemical reactions learn from here
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