Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing chemical equations engages the stoichiometric coefficients and their impact on the reactants and the products. A chemical equation always abides by the law of mass conservation and the law of constant proportions.
The blog focuses on some important aspects associated with balancing equations and the methods of how to balance chemical equations. The first method to balance the equation is the traditional process, and the second one is the modern version of the algebraic method.

Balanced Chemical Equation

A chemical equation is the symbolic presentation of a chemical reaction process, where the reactants and products are represented through the individual chemical formulas.

A formula balancer is a medium to describe the reaction between the chemical elements to form the product.
The reactant of the chemical equation remains on the left side, whereas the symbol of the product lies on the right side of the arrow.

Example: H2O + O2 = H2O3

Stoichiometric Coefficient

Stoichiometric Coefficient denotes the aggregate of the molecules of any chemical element involved in a chemical reaction.
The process shows the proportion between the reacting elements and the products in the balance equations.
The number of atoms in an element in a balanced chemical equation is equivalent to the atom numbers in one molecule of an element.

Example: 2O2 + N2 + 2NO2

In the equation mentioned above, the stoichiometric coefficient of O2 and H2O is 2, and that of CO2 and CH4 is 1.
In balancing a chemical equation, the coefficients are allocated to balance with the total number of atoms present in both reactant and products.

The Traditional balancing chemical reactions method,

Step 1: You must present the unbalanced equation method of the reactants and the products.
Step 2: Next, you have to compare the total number of atoms in each chemical on the reactant and the product side.
Step 3: You must add the stoichiometric coefficients to the molecules of the elements with several atoms on the reactant and product side. The equation will have to be balanced by balancing the number of molecules in the elements on both sides.
Step 4: Make sure the number of atoms is equal on both sides.
Step 5: After you balance the equation, you must compare the number of atoms and molecules once again. Finally, the balanced equation result will be out.

The Algebraic Method to Balance Equations

The algebraic method of balancing equations chemistry engages the involvement of the algebraic symbols to present the stoichiometric coefficients. The variables used here belong to mathematical equations. The modern method is almost similar to the traditional method. The only difference is that of the representation of the variables. The values of the elements are substituted with algebraic symbols in these equations. According to the researchers, the algebraic model to balance a chemical equation is more helpful than the traditional process.

Two Solved Examples for how to Balance Equations,

Q. Al + O2 = Al2O3

Traditional Method,

First, you need to balance the equation.
Step 1: 2Al + O2 = Al2O3
Step 2: 2Al + 3O2 = 2Al2O3
Step 3: 4Al + 3O2 = 2Al2O3

Algebraic Method,

Here we use the algebraic symbols.
aAl + bO2 = cAl2O3
Equation for Oxygen: 2b =3c
Equation for Aluminium: a = 2c
If, we assume a = 1
Then, the solution be like,
c= a/2; c=1/2
2b= 3*(1/2) = 3/2; b=3/4
Here, the fractional values of b and c are out. The lowest denominator is 4 here. So, we have to multiply the variables with 4 respectively.
a= 4*1 = 4;
b= (3/4)*4 = 3;
c= (1/2)*4 = 2
Here also, the balanced equation is,
4Al + 3O2 = 2Al2O3