[prettyinpink]

Hi everyone, Okay i am having trouble.
There is an example in my chemistry work book that looks like this:
(Mass-mass problem)
What mass of Al(OH)3 can be obtained by reacting 25.0g Al4C3 with water?
     1. (write balanced eq'tn) Al4C3 + 12H20 --> 3CH4 + Al(OH)3

I know how to balance the equation...but I dont know how to do the equation in order to balance it. I realize that first (like it says) Al4C3 + H20 are the reactants, i obviously know how to get those, but I do not know how they are getting the CH4 as the first product. Can anyone please explain this?

[Borek]

I dont know how to do the equation in order to balance it.

Do you mean "how to predict products"?

[prettyinpink]

yes haha, sorry.

[Controlled Substance]

This skill will come to you as you become more and more familiar with different types of reactions and the chemical properties of elements.

http://misterguch.brinkster.net/6typesofchemicalrxn.html

[dabaichi]

Most cases when their are two reactants, the type of reaction is either combination or double replacement. For your chemical equation, it's clearly double replacement:
AB + CD -> AD + CB where A and C are potential cations and B and D are potential anions.