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Using Algebra To Balance Chemical Equations

The document describes the steps to balance a chemical equation using algebra: 1) Write the chemical equation and assign coefficients of 1 to the first reactant 2) Assign variables to other coefficients 3) Write element balance equations relating elements to variables 4) Solve the equations to determine the coefficients 5) Replace variables with coefficients to get the balanced equation An example balances the combustion of propane gas as 1C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O.

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Michelle Correia
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243 views2 pages

Using Algebra To Balance Chemical Equations

The document describes the steps to balance a chemical equation using algebra: 1) Write the chemical equation and assign coefficients of 1 to the first reactant 2) Assign variables to other coefficients 3) Write element balance equations relating elements to variables 4) Solve the equations to determine the coefficients 5) Replace variables with coefficients to get the balanced equation An example balances the combustion of propane gas as 1C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O.

Uploaded by

Michelle Correia
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit 2C.

2 Using Algebra to Balance Chemical Equations

Steps:
1. Write out the chemical equation.
2. Assign a value of 1 to the coefficient of the first compound.
3. Assign a variable to the other coefficients.
4. For each element, write an equality relating its amounts to the other variables.
5. Solve for the variables.
6. Replace variables with the coefficients in the chemical equation.

Let’s see how this method works:

Example: Write a balanced reaction for the combustion of propane gas.

1. Write out the chemical equation.

C3H8 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

2. Assign a value of 1 to the coefficient of the first compound.

1 C3H8 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

3. Assign a variable to the other coefficients.

1 C3H8 + X O2 → Y CO2 + Z H2O

4. For each element, write an equality relating its amounts to the other variables.
• You know that the number of atoms of a particular element must equal on both sides of the
equation (Law of Conservation of Mass)

Carbon: 3=Y The number of equations equals the


Hydrogen: 8 = 2Z number of elements involved in the
Oxygen: 2X = 2Y + Z reaction.

5. Solve for the variables.

Y=3 2Z = 8 2X = 2Y + Z
2Z ÷2 = 8 ÷ 2 2X = 2 (3) + 4
Z=4 2X = 6 + 4
2X = 10
2X ÷2 = 10 ÷ 2
X=5
6. Replace variables with the coefficients in the chemical equation.

1 C3H8 + X O2 → Y CO2 + Z H2O

1 C3H8 + 5 O2 → 3 CO2 + 4 H2O

7. Take final atom inventory to make sure your equation is balanced.

___3__Carbon ___3__

___8___Hydrogen ___8__

___10__ Oxygen ___6 +4 = 10

If your calculations yield a fraction for any of the variables, after step 6, multiply all of the coefficients by
a number that will convert all of the coefficients to a whole number

13
1 C4H10 + 2
O2 → 4 CO2 + 5 H2O
13
2× (1 C4H10 + 2 O2 → 4 CO2 + 5 H2O)
2 C4H10 + 13 O2 → 8 CO2 + 10 H2O

If your calculations yield coefficients with a lowest common factor, simplify the equation by dividing all
of the coefficients by that number.

2 C2H6O + 6 O2 → 4 CO2 + 6 H2O

2 ÷ (2 C2H6O + 6 O2 → 4 CO2 + 6 H2O)

1 C2H6O + 3 O2 → 2 CO2 + 3 H2O

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