Steps Involved in Balancing a Chemical Equation:
Consider the chemical reaction between magnesium and oxygen to understand the steps involved in balancing a chemical equation.
Step 1:
Let us first write the word equation for this reaction.
Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium oxide
Step 2:
Write the chemical equation for the reaction between magnesium and oxygen.
Mg + O2 → MgO
Step 3:
Count the number of atoms of an element occurring on both L.H.S. and R.H.S. in this equation.
Mg + O2 → MgO
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Component
|
Reactant
|
Product
|
|
Magnesium
|
1
|
1
|
|
Oxygen
|
2
|
1
|
This is an unbalanced equation.
Step 4:
To balance a chemical equation, first draw boxes around each formula. Do not change anything inside the boxes while balancing the equation.
Choose a reactant or a product which has the maximum number of atoms in it.
In that compound, select the element which has the maximum number of atoms. In this equation we shall select MgO i.e. magnesium oxide and the element oxygen in it.
To balance the oxygen atoms, let us multiply magnesium oxide molecule by 2 on the right hand side.
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Component
|
Reactant
|
Product
|
|
Magnesium
|
1
|
1 x 2 = 2
|
|
Oxygen
|
2
|
1 x 2 = 2
|
Step 5:
There are two oxygen atoms on either side of the equation but one magnesium atom on the reactant's side and two on the product's side. Therefore, multiply the magnesium atom by 2 on the left hand side.
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Component
|
Reactant
|
Product
|
|
Magnesium
|
1 x 2 = 2
|
2
|
|
Oxygen
|
2
|
2
|
Therefore, the number of atoms of each element of reactants = The number of atoms of each element of products.
Step 6: Writing Specific Conditions on the Arrow
The reaction is carried out in the presence of ‘Heat’. On heating, magnesium combines with oxygen present in air to form magnesium oxide.
Step 7: Writing Symbols of Physical States
Using these steps, you can balance any chemical equation.
Meghna Thapar 3 years, 10 months ago
Steps Involved in Balancing a Chemical Equation:
Consider the chemical reaction between magnesium and oxygen to understand the steps involved in balancing a chemical equation.
Step 1:
Let us first write the word equation for this reaction.
Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium oxide
Step 2:
Write the chemical equation for the reaction between magnesium and oxygen.
Mg + O2 → MgO
Step 3:
Count the number of atoms of an element occurring on both L.H.S. and R.H.S. in this equation.
Mg + O2 → MgO
Component
Reactant
Product
Magnesium
1
1
Oxygen
2
1
This is an unbalanced equation.
Step 4:
To balance a chemical equation, first draw boxes around each formula. Do not change anything inside the boxes while balancing the equation.
Choose a reactant or a product which has the maximum number of atoms in it.
In that compound, select the element which has the maximum number of atoms. In this equation we shall select MgO i.e. magnesium oxide and the element oxygen in it.
To balance the oxygen atoms, let us multiply magnesium oxide molecule by 2 on the right hand side.
Component
Reactant
Product
Magnesium
1
1 x 2 = 2
Oxygen
2
1 x 2 = 2
Step 5:
There are two oxygen atoms on either side of the equation but one magnesium atom on the reactant's side and two on the product's side. Therefore, multiply the magnesium atom by 2 on the left hand side.
Component
Reactant
Product
Magnesium
1 x 2 = 2
2
Oxygen
2
2
Therefore, the number of atoms of each element of reactants = The number of atoms of each element of products.
Step 6: Writing Specific Conditions on the Arrow
The reaction is carried out in the presence of ‘Heat’. On heating, magnesium combines with oxygen present in air to form magnesium oxide.
Step 7: Writing Symbols of Physical States
Using these steps, you can balance any chemical equation.
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