What is a balanced chemical equation? Why should chemical equation be ...
What is a balanced chemical equation?
A balanced chemical equation is a representation of a chemical reaction using chemical formulas and symbols. It shows the reactants on the left side of the equation and the products on the right side of the equation. The equation must be balanced, meaning that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.
Why should chemical equation be balanced?
Chemical equations should be balanced because it follows the law of conservation of mass. This law states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Therefore, the number of atoms of each element must be the same on both sides of the equation to ensure that the mass is conserved.
Importance of balancing chemical equations:
- Ensures that the law of conservation of mass is followed
- Provides information on the reactants and products involved in the reaction
- Allows for the calculation of the amount of reactants needed and products produced
- Prevents errors in experiments and calculations
How to balance a chemical equation:
- Write the chemical equation using chemical formulas and symbols
- Count the number of atoms of each element on both the reactant and product side
- Balance the equation by adjusting the coefficients in front of the chemical formulas to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides
- Check the balanced equation to ensure that it follows the law of conservation of mass
Example of a balanced chemical equation:
The chemical equation for the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to form water is:
2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
The equation is balanced because there are 4 atoms of hydrogen and 2 atoms of oxygen on both sides of the equation.