The following page will instruct you how to properly balance chemical equations.
First of all you will have to learn the rules for balancing equations:
1. Make sure you have all the right formulas for every reactant and product in the problem.
2. Secondly, you should write the formulas for the reactants on the left side of the problem and and the products on the right side and always have an arrow in between to indicate the equation is yielding a product. Be sure if there are more than one reactant or product in the problem to use plus (+) signs to separate their formulas.
3. Thirdly, you must count the number of atoms within each element in the reactants and products. Whenever there is a polyatomic ion on both sides of the problem that is not altered you think of it as a single unit.
4. Fourthly, when balancing an equation only balance one at a time When doing this process you should be using coefficients. Coefficients are small whole numbers that are placed in front of a formula in a problem. A helpful hint is to begin with other elements besides hydrogen and oxygen.
5. Fifthly, you must check each atom or polyatomic ion to be positive
the equation is balanced.
6. The sixth and final step is to be sure every coefficient is in its lowest possible form.
Types of Chemical Reactions
Five basic types:
1. Combination Reaction: This type of reaction means that a new compound is formed. For the compound to be formed two or more substances must react to form one single substance.
EXAMPLE: 2H2 +O2 YIELDS 2H2O
2. Decomposition Reactions: Defined as a single compound that is broken down into two or more simple substances.
EXAMPLE: 2H2O YIELDS 2H2 + O2
3. Single Replacement: States that atoms of an element replace the atoms of a second element in a compound. A hint to help you is if you did the problem correct the nonmetal should replace the nonmetal.
EXAMPLE: Cl2 + 2NaBr YIELDS 2NaCl + Br2
4. Double Replacement: Means that there is a chemical change involving an exchange of positive ions between two compounds. In other words the metals switch places.
EXAMPLE: 2NaOH + H2SO4 YIELDS Na2SO4 + 2H20
5. Combustion Reaction: Occurs when oxygen reacts with another substance often making heat or light energy. Usually this type of reaction has compounds containing hydrogen or carbon. The combustion of hydrogen and carbon produces carbon dioxide and water.
*If your results contain carbon monoxide (CO) instead of carbon dioxide (CO2) your answer is incorrect.