Question

Suggest some ways to balance an equation?

Answer 1

Balancing chemical equation :

• Balancing chemical equation refers to balancing the stoichiometric coefficients on the reactants and products side. so as the chemical equation obeys the law of conservation of mass and momentum.
• Therefore both reactants and products should have the same molar configuration
• Following are the easy steps to balance the equation:

Step 1: Write the Unbalanced Chemical Equation

Let us consider an unbalanced equation as:

$\mathrm{Fe}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to {\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$

Step 2: Write Down the Number of Atoms

Then it is needed to be written down, the number of atoms of each element present on both reactant as well as product side

Atom	Reactant side	Product side
Fe	1	2
O	2	3

Step 3: Add Coefficients To Balance the Mass in a Chemical Equation:

• The coefficients that are to be added must be a whole number

• One coefficient added applies to all the atoms present in that one particular molecule.
• For example, $2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$ implies four hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms.
• First of all it is required to balance the single element $O$ - atom and then move n to hydrogen and oxygen.
• So here Iron will be balanced first and then oxygen.
• Proceed by trial and error method. Adding two iron on both sides won’t work as in the reactant side it will be two and on product $4$. Then move on to $3$ and then $4.$
• $4\mathrm{Fe}$ works, $2$ iron oxide molecules, making it $2{\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$

$4\mathrm{Fe}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to 2{\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$

• In a similar manner trial and error procedure is now followed to balance Oxygen.
• $3O_2$then we have six oxygen atoms on the reactant side and also six Oxygen atoms on the product side.
• Hence The balanced chemical equation is:

$4\mathrm{Fe}+3{\mathrm{O}}_2\to 2{\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$

Thus the balanced equation for the above consideration following the above steps is :$4\mathrm{Fe}+3{\mathrm{O}}_2\to 2{\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$