Balance the equation: .
Step 1: Given equation
Step 2: Method used for balancing the equation
Using the traditional method of balancing chemical equations. According to the method:
Step 3: Balancing the given equation
The given equation is:
Equation: | |
Reactant Side | Product Side |
2 Sodium atoms | 1 Sodium atom |
2 Hydrogen atoms | 1 Hydrogen atom |
2 Oxygen atoms | 1 Oxygen atom |
First, the sodium atoms are balanced. After balancing the equation becomes:
The hydrogen and oxygen atoms are balanced.
The updated equation is:
Equation: | |
Reactant Side | Product Side |
2 Sodium atoms | 2 Sodium atoms |
2 Hydrogen atoms | 2 Hydrogen atoms |
2 Oxygen atoms | 2 Oxygen atoms |
Since the number of all the atoms of the reacting elements are equal on both the reactant and product sides are equal, the equation is balanced.
Hence the balanced equation is: .