Chemical Equations: Writing & Balancing | Science Class 10 PDF Download

Balancing chemical equations means adding numbers to the chemicals to make sure the same number of each type of atom is on both sides. This is important because a chemical equation must obey the law of conservation of mass and the law of constant proportions, i.e. the same number of atoms of each element must exist on the reactant side and the product side of the equation. 

What is a Chemical Equation?

• A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a chemical reaction in which the reactants and products are denoted by their respective chemical formulae.
• An example of a chemical equation is 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O which describes the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to form water
• The reactant side is the part of the chemical equation to the left of the ‘→’ symbol whereas the product side is the part to the right of the arrow symbol.
  Reactant: The substance or substances which takes part in a chemical reaction are called reactants.
  Products: The new substance or substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction are called products.
  In the above reaction, P₄O₁₀ & water are reactants and Phosphoric acid is the product.

Rules for Writing a Word Equation

1. The substances taking part in chemical reaction reactants are always written on the left-hand side of arrow.
2. The substances formed after the chemical reaction, products are always written on the right hand side of arrow.
3. A plus sign (+) is put in between the reactants or the products. If their number is two or more.
4. An arrow (→) is put between the reactants and products, the arrow shows the direction of the reaction in which the reaction proceeds. The arrow is read as "to yield" or "to form".

In the word equation when symbols and chemical formulas of the reactants and products are used then it is called a chemical equation.

Example: Na + H₂O → NaOH + H₂
i.e. A chemical equation is a statement that describes a chemical reaction in terms of symbols and formulas. In this equation the law of conservation of mass is not obeying. Such chemical equation is called skeletal equation or unbalanced equation.
A chemical equation expressed in symbols and formula, such that the number of atoms of different elements towards the side of the reactants is not equal to the number of atoms of the products is called skeletal equation or unbalanced equation.
To make this equation meaningful, this equation is balanced then it is called balanced chemical equation.

Steps to Balance Chemical Equations

A balanced chemical equation is one that contains an equal number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation. The simple equations are balanced by the "hit and trial method" which is done in the following steps.

Step 1. Count the no. of atoms of various elements on both sides of the equation

Example: Fe + H₂O → Fe₃O₄ + H₂

Step 2. Start balancing with the compound which contains maximum number of atoms. It may be a reactant or product. In that compound select the element which has maximum number of atoms.
According to this rule Fe₃O₄ has maximum number of atoms & oxygen has 4 atoms so it is selected.

So the partly balanced equation is
Fe + 4H₂O → Fe₃O₄ + H₂

Step 3. Fe and H are not balanced in the above reaction so the above reaction repeat the above process for both i.e.

Now the equation becomes as
Fe + 4H₂O → Fe₃O₄ + 4H₂

Step 4. Balance the Iron atoms similarly.

Now the equation is
3Fe + 4H₂O → Fe₃O₄ + 4H₂

Step 5. Finally check the correctness of the balanced equation by counting the number of atoms on both sides of the equation.

Step 6. To make chemical equation more informative physical states of the reactants and products are mentioned as for solid (s), liquid (l), gas (g) and for aqueous solution of reactant or product (aq) is written.
Now the equation becomes as
3Fe(s) + 4H₂O(g) → Fe₃O₄(s) + 4H₂(g)

Symbol (g) with water is written to show that water is used in the form of steam in this equation.
If gas is evolved in a reaction it can be shown by the symbol (↑) after the formula i.e. arrow pointing upwards e.g.
2Na(s) + 2H₂O(l) → 2 NaOH(aq) + H₂(g) or H₂ (↑)
The symbol (↓) or ppt is be written for precipitate.
NaCl + AgNO₃ → NaNO₃ + AgCl (↓) or ppt.
A reversible reaction is represented by the (⇌) symbol and irreversible reaction by the (→) symbol.
The heat evolved in a chemical reaction is written on the right side by putting positive (+) sign and heat absorbed in the chemical reaction is written on the right hand side by putting negative (-) sign.
N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃ + 22400 calories (Exothermic reaction)
N₂ + O₂ ⇌ 2NO - 43200 calories (Endothermic reaction)

Sometimes the reaction conditions, such as temperature, pressure, catalyst etc. are written above or below the arrow in the equation e.g.
N₂ + 3H₂ 2NH₃ + 22400 calorie heat
450°C (Fe-Mo)

Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions:

(i) Exothermic reaction: The reaction in which heat is liberated (or given out) is called an exothermic reaction.
Example: C(s) + O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + Heat (393 kJ/mol)
(ii) Endothermic reaction: The reaction in which heat is absorbed (or taken in ) is called an endothermic reaction.
Example: C(s) + 2S(g) → CS₂(g) - Heat (92 kJ/mol)

The reaction with + Heat term on the product side is called exothermic reaction, while those with - Heat term on the product side are called endothermic reactions.
During respiration, the digested food gets oxidised and the energy is released. That is why, it is considered as an exothermic reaction.
Balancing of a chemical equation is necessary because no matter (hence, no atom) is lost or gained during a chemical reaction.

Writing the Symbols of Physical States of Substances

By writing the physical states of substances a chemical equation becomes more informative.

• Gaseous state is represented by symbol ‘g’
• Liquid state is represented by symbol ‘l’
• Solid state is written by symbol ‘s’
• Aqueous solution is written by symbol ‘aq’

Writing the condition in which reaction takes place: The condition is generally written above and/or below the arrow of a chemical equation.

Thus, by writing the symbols of physical state of substances and condition under which reaction takes place, a chemical equation can be made more informative.

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