Balancing Chemical Equations

Chemical Equations
A chemical equation is a method of describing what occurs in a chemical reaction via the use of
symbols for the participating chemicals (atoms, molecules, ions). The reaction identifies both
the reactants (starting material) and products (resulting materials). The reactants are shown on
the left and products are shown on the right, whereby both are separated by an arrow. The
arrow is usually read as yields A single arrow () is used for irreversible reactions, whereas a
double arrow () is used for reversible reactions. The chemical equation also depicts the
formulas and phases of the participant as well as the quantity of each.

wA + xB

conditions (e.g. temp.)

(Reactants)

yC + zD
(Products)

The plus sign (+) indicates that substance A and B have reacted with each other in some way. The lower
case letters w, x, y and z show the amount of molecules present and are called stoichiometric
coefficients. The stoichiometric sum is the sum of the coefficients of the reactants minus the sum of the
coefficient of the products [(w + x) (y + z)]. When the stoichiometric sum is zero, the equation is
balanced.
Note: The quantities expressed by the stoichiometric coefficient can either be expressed in grams or moles

Writing and Balancing Equations

1. Write the equation in words
e.g.:
Carbon + Oxygen

Carbon dioxide

Zinc Hydroxide + Hydrochloric acid

Hydrogen + Oxygen

Zinc chloride + water

water

2. Write the correct formula for each reactant and product

C + O2
CO2
Zn(OH)2 + HCl
H2 + O2

ZnCl2 + H2O (not balanced)

H2O

(not balanced)

3. From looking at the equations, it is noticeable that some of the representations are not consistent
with the law of conservation of mass. The law of conservation of mass states that the mass in a
closed system will remain constant over time, regardless of the processes acting in that system.
Therefore the equation must now be balanced in order to ensure that there is the same number of
atoms or ions of each element on either side of the equation. This is achieved by placing coefficients
(simple whole numbers) in front of the formula so as to alter the proportions of the reactants and
products.
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Balancing Chemical Equations

C + O2

CO2

Reactants
Products
C=1
C=1
O=2
O=2
The above reaction is therefore balanced since there are equal amounts of atoms on either side of
the equation.
Zn(OH)2 + HCl

ZnCl2 + H2O

Reactants
Zn= 1
O= 2
H= 2+1=3
Cl=1

Products
Zn= 1
O=1
H= 4
Cl=2

The (O) oxygen, (H) hydrogen, and (Cl) atoms do not balance since there is an unequal distribution
of atoms on either side of the equation.
First to balance the oxygen atoms, a coefficient 2 is placed in front of the formula for water.
Zn(OH)2 + HCl

ZnCl2 + 2H2O

In the above equation, the coefficient 2 not only increases the number of oxygen on the right to
two, but it also increases the amount of hydrogen atoms to four, still causing the reaction to be
unbalanced. To balance the amount of hydrogen atoms, the coefficient 2 is placed in front of the
HCl on the left. This will increase the amount of hydrogen atoms on the left, to be four which is
equivalent to the number of hydrogen atoms on the right.
Zn(OH)2 + 2HCl

ZnCl2 + 2H2O

Note: Previously the distribution of the Cl atoms on either side of the equation was unequal;
however by balancing off the amount of hydrogen atoms, we indirectly balanced the amount of
chlorine atoms. This is sometimes the case, when dealing with compounds.

H2 + O2
Reactants
H=2
O=2

H2O
Products
H=2
O=1

In this equation, the amount of reactants and products, are not balanced. Two oxygen atoms are
shown on the left and only one is present on the right. To balance the equation we start with
balancing the amount of oxygen atoms, therefore the coefficient 2 must be placed in front of the
formula for water.

Balancing Chemical Equations

H2 + O2

2H2O

The amount of oxygen atoms present is now balanced; however there are now four hydrogen atoms
in the product and only two hydrogen atoms as reactants. Therefore to balance the equation, a
coefficient of 2 must be placed in front of the H2 atom on the left.
2H2 + O2

2H2O

The equation is now balanced.

4. The physical state of each reactant and product must be shown by placing a state symbol after each
formula:
Solid
(s)
Liquid
(l)
Gas
(g)
Aqueous solution
(aq)
C(s) + O2(g)

CO2(g)

Zn(OH)2(s) + 2HCl(aq)

2H2(g) + O2(g)

ZnCl2(aq) + 2H2O(l)

2H2O(l)

Example
Step 1: Zinc + Nitric Acid
Step 2: Zn + HNO3
Step 3: Zn + 2HNO3
Step 4: Zn(s) + HNO3(aq)

Zinc Nitrate + Hydrogen

Zn(NO3)2 + H2
Zn(NO3)2 + H2
Zn(NO3)2(aq) + H2(g)

Hints for Balancing Equations

1. Start with only the elements that occur in only one formula on each side of the equation:
e.g.:
NH4Cl + CuO
CuCl2 + H2O + NH3
The chlorine (Cl) atom only occurs in one formula on each side of the equation and does not
balance. Therefore it is balanced by placing the coefficient 2 in front of NH4Cl.
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Balancing Chemical Equations

2NH4Cl + CuO

CuCl2 + H2O + NH3

However the nitrogen (N) is not balanced now, but this can easily be balanced by putting a
coefficient of 2 in front of NH3.
2NH4Cl + CuO
Now the equation is balanced.

CuCl2 + H2O + 2NH3

2. Another hint is to treat radicals which remain intact during the reaction as single entities, meaning
that no attempt should be made to try and balance them as individual atoms.
e.g.:

Pb(NO3)2 + NaOH

Pb(OH)2 + NaNO3

The OH does not balance, however it can be balanced by placing a coefficient of 2 in front of
NaOH.
The NO3 also does not balance, but it can be balance by placing a coefficient of 2 in front of
NaNO3:
Pb(NO3)2 + 2NaOH
Pb(OH)2 + 2NaNO3

Revision Problems
Balance the following molecular equations. Make sure to include the state symbols
for each compound.
1. Calcium + oxygen

calcium oxide

2. Sodium + Oxygen

sodium oxide

3. Hydrogen + lead [II] oxide

lead + steam

4. Calcium carbonate + sulphuric acid

5. Iron + chlorine
6. Carbon + oxygen
7. Hydrogen + chlorine

calcium sulphate + carbon dioxide + water

iron [III] chloride

carbon dioxide
hydrogen chloride

8. Sodium hydroxide + copper [II] sulphate

9. Sodium hydroxide + phosphoric acid
10. Copper [II] carbonate + hydrochloric acid

sodium sulphate + copper [II] hydroxide

sodium phosphate + water
copper [II] chloride + carbon dioxide + water

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