WRITING & BALANCING
EQUATIONS
WRITING CHEMICAL EQUATION
Chemical equation simply describes the
chemical reaction with formulas and
symbols. There are two parts of chemical
equation: the reactants and the products.
The reactant is written on the left side of
the equation while the product is written on
the right side of the equation.
As + Bl →Cs + Dg + Δ
Where:
A and B are reactants
C and D are products
Δ means heat
The meaning of this subscripts are :
(s) solid,(l) Liquid, (g) gas. Another
physical state is aqueous solution
means it is dissolved in water the
symbol of it is (aq).
TYPES OF CHEMICAL REACTION
COMBINATION OR DIRECT UNION REACTION - it is a type of
reaction in which two or more substances combine to form a
single product. the general form of combination reaction is
A+B→ AB For A and B reactants may be elements or compound
while AB product is always a compound.
DECOMPOSITION OR ANALYSIS REACTION - decomposition is a
type of reaction in which a single compound is broken down into
one or more simple substance. Decomposition reaction means
take things apart. the general form of decomposition reaction is
AB → A + B. Where AB is always a compound while A and B may
be elements or compounds since this is just the reverse of
synthesis reaction.
SINGLE REPLACEMENT OR DOUBLE REPLACEMENT
SUBSTITUTION REACTION- OR METATHESIS- it is
single replacement reaction is sometimes called double
characterized by one element displacement, metathesis,
replacing another element in a
exchange, or ionic
compound dot the general form of
single replacement reaction is A + reaction. In this reaction,
BC → AC + B The element which two compounds exchange
will displace the other is bond or ions to form
determine to their chemical different compounds. the
activities. Elements such as metal general form of a double
and halogens are arranged in an
replacement reaction is
activity series the more reactive
element waste the less reactive AB + CD → AD + CB
one in the reaction.
Sample:
BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATION
- the number of atoms at the beginning of a
reaction (reactants - left side of the equation)
must equal the number of atoms at the end
of the reaction (products - right side of the
equation). The subscripts in a correct formula
tell the number of atoms in one molecule.
The coefficients (numbers in front of a
formula) in a correctly balanced equation tell
the number of molecules involved in a
reaction.
THE BASICS OF BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS
Step 1: Write the unbalanced equation using the correct
chemical formula for each reactant and product. Keep
organized and make a table underneath the reactants and
products with the number of elements involved in the reaction.
Step 2: Find suitable coefficients, which are the numbers
placed before chemical formulas to indicate how many
units of each substance are required to balance the
equation.
Step 3: Reduce coefficients to their smallest whole-number
values, if necessary, by dividing them by a common divisor.
Step 4: Check your answer to make sure that the numbers
and kinds of atoms are the same on both sides of the
equation.
EXAMPLE: BALANCING EQUATIONS
Step 1: Write the unbalanced equation using the
correct chemical formula for each reactant and
product. Make a table with the total number of
elements involved in the reactants and products of
a reaction.
Step 2: Find suitable coefficients, which are
the numbers placed before chemical
formulas to indicate how many units of each
substance are required to balance the
equation.
Remember: if there is no number in front of the formula,
it means there is 1 present.
You can only add coefficients, not subscripts.
If there is a Subscript such as O2 , it means that there
are 2 present.
If there is a coefficient in front of a formula such as 3O2,
that means that you multiply the 3 times 2, equals 6.
Make sure you keep track of the coefficients and
change them in your table.
Hint: Work with H’s last.
Hint: Start changing the coefficients in front of the most
complex formula and end with the simplest formula. For
example, change the coefficient in front of Fe2O3 instead of
Fe because it is easier to change the Fe at the end.
Step 3: By looking at this table it is obvious that there
are unequal numbers of Fe and O in the products and
reactants. Start with trial and error by changing the
coefficients to the smallest whole-number values
possible to attempt to make the amount of Fe and O the
same on both sides.
From the table, you know that there needs to be at least 3O’s
on the Products side to make it equal to the O’s on the Reactants
side. But there is no way to put a coefficient in front of the
Reactants to make it exactly equal to 3.
Therefore, you have to find a common factor. A common factor
of 3O and 2O is 6. To do this put a 2 coefficient in front of on the
products side to give us 2 x 3 which is 6 and 2 x 2 Fe which is 4
Fe. Don’t forget to change your table to keep track of reactants
and products.
Next, balance for on the
reactants side by putting a 3 in
front of the , the new number of
oxygen is 3 x 2, which equals 6.
You are almost done. Now
balance for on the reactants side
by placing a 4 coefficient to get 4 .
Sample:
