Practice question · Put in order
Order the steps to balance a chemical equation by inspection.
- Count atoms of each element on both sides of the arrow
- Verify that total atom counts and any net charge match on both sides
- Adjust stoichiometric coefficients (never subscripts) to equalise atom counts
- Write the unbalanced equation with correct formulas for all species
Hints
- Only the coefficients may change, never the subscripts.
- Leave the element appearing in the most compounds until last.
Show the answer
- Write the unbalanced equation with correct formulas for all species
- Count atoms of each element on both sides of the arrow
- Adjust stoichiometric coefficients (never subscripts) to equalise atom counts
- Verify that total atom counts and any net charge match on both sides
Why
Only coefficients may be changed when balancing. Changing subscripts would alter the chemical identity of the compounds.
Practise Stoichiometric relationships
The app has 8 more questions on this lesson, and keeps your place in the course. Physics I is free to start.
More questions on Stoichiometric relationships
- For the reaction 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O, you mix 4 mol of H2 with 1 mol of O2. What limits the water you can make?
- Propane burns: C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O. How many moles of O2 are needed to burn 2 mol of propane completely?
- In a balanced chemical equation, the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides.
- A reaction runs out of one reactant while another remains. Why does the limiting reagent determine the yield…