Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: aek. on October 16, 2004, 07:23:27 AM

Title: Balancing Equations
Post by: aek. on October 16, 2004, 07:23:27 AM

I know as soon as you guys read this post, your going to say what an idiot..but guys i really need your help in this matter. I've never been able to grasp this balancing issue..First of all you have to compose it by using decomposition etc etc. Then you have to balance, can anyone help me or supply me with a website..

Thanks Brothers for helping me out

Title: Re:Balancing Equations
Post by: myelver10 on October 22, 2004, 10:16:55 AM

just make sure you have the same amount of  atoms for each element on either side of the equation by putting numbers in front of compounds where needed

Title: Re:Balancing Equations
Post by: Donaldson Tan on October 22, 2004, 07:28:00 PM

balancing is a mathematical game. if you find it hard to list all your coefficients in integers, leave it in fraction, then multiply by the lowest common multiple of all the denominators to obtain the required chemical equation. eg.

C₅H₁₀ + (10+5)/2 O₂ -> 5 CO₂ + 5 H₂O

the fraction here (only one) is 15/2, hence the lowest common multiple is two, therefore multiply two to all the coefficients to obtain this final equation:

2 C₅H₁₀ + 15 O₂ -> 10 CO₂ + 10 H₂O

Hope this helps :D