#Balanced chemical equation calculator plus#

The 3 on the nitrate times 2 outside the parenthesis equals 6 oxygen in one formula unit. (d) 3Ca(NO 3) 2 (just the oxygens) -> There are 18. (c) 2(NH 4) 2S -> there are 2 x 1 x 2 atoms of nitrogen (a total of 4), there are 2 x 4 x 2 atoms of hydrogen (a total of 16), and 2 x 1 atoms of sulfur (a total of 2). (b) 2H 2O -> there are 2 x 2 atoms of hydrogen (a total of 4) and 2 x 1 atoms of oxygen (a total of 2). (a) 2H 2 -> there are 2 x 2 atoms of hydrogen (a total of 4). Important point: the coefficient times the subscript gives the total number of atoms.įour examples before balancing the equation. It is important to note that only the coefficients can be changed, NEVER a subscript. Remember this: A balanced equation MUST have EQUAL numbers of EACH type of atom on BOTH sides of the arrow.Īn equation is balanced by changing coefficients in a somewhat trial-and-error fashion. In the example equation, there are two atoms of hydrogen on each side, BUT there are two atoms of oxygen on the left side and only one on the right side.

Presenting it as being balanced would be wrong. By the way, a skeleton equation is not wrong, it just hasn't been balanced yet. This means that there are UNEQUAL numbers at least one atom on each side of the arrow. It is an unbalanced equation (sometimes also called a skeleton equation). Therefore, we must finish our chemical reaction with as many atoms of each element as when we started.Įxample #1: Balance the following equation: H 2 + O 2 -> H 2O

'Matter is neither created nor destroyed.'

'We may lay it down as an incontestible axiom, that, in all the operations of art and nature, nothing is created an equal quantity of matter exists both before and after the experiment the quality and quantity of the elements remain precisely the same and nothing takes place beyond changes and modifications in the combination of these elements.' The law was discovered by Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (1743-94) and this is his formulation of it, translated into English in 1790 from the Traité élémentaire de Chimie (which was published in 1789): The Law of Conservation of Mass is the rationale for balancing a chemical equation. IMPORTANT DEFINITION: A balanced equation has equal numbers of each type of atom on each side of the equation. Making sure they are balanced must be done before the equation can be used in any chemically meaningful way.Īll chemical calculations you will see in other units must be done with a balanced equation.

#Balanced chemical equation calculator plus#

Multiple substances on any side of the equation are separated from each other by a plus sign.Discussion and Twenty Examples Probs 1-10 Probs 11-25 Probs 26-45 Probs 46-65 'Balancing by groups' problems Only the problems Return to Equations Menu Balance redox equations by sightĬhemical equations usually do not come already balanced. If not written explicitly, the coefficient is equal to 1. molecules) of that substance are involved in the reaction on a molecular basis. The coefficient specifies how many entities (e.g. Each substance is specified by its chemical formula, optionally preceded by a number called stoichiometric coefficient. A chemical equation (see an example below) consists of a list of reactants (the starting substances) on the left-hand side, an arrow symbol, and a list of products (substances formed in the chemical reaction) on the right-hand side.