Balancing chemical equation and exsmples

Answer 1

In a chemical equation, the number of atoms of each element must be equal on both the reactant and product sides. Balancing a chemical equation involves adjusting the coefficients in front of the chemical formulas to ensure that this is the case.

For example, let's balance the equation for the combustion of methane:

CH4 + O2 -> CO2 + H2O
Starting with the carbon atoms, we have 1 on the left side and 1 on the right side, so carbon is already balanced.
Next, let's balance the hydrogen atoms. There are 4 on the left side and 2 on the right side, so we need to put a coefficient of 2 in front of the H2O:

CH4 + O2 -> CO2 + 2H2O
Now we have 4 hydrogen atoms on each side.
Lastly, let's balance the oxygen atoms. There are 2 oxygen atoms in the CO2 and 4 in the H2O, making a total of 6 oxygen atoms on the right side.
To balance the oxygen atoms, we need to put a coefficient of 2.5 in front of the O2:

CH4 + 2.5O2 -> CO2 + 2H2O
Now the equation is balanced with 1 carbon atom, 4 hydrogen atoms, and 5 oxygen atoms on both the reactant and product sides.