CH2 + H2O - CH3CH2OH

Is this unbalanced? if so why and can you explain how to balance it.

Question

CH2 + H2O -> CH3CH2OH 

Is this unbalanced? if so why and can you explain how to balance it.

abb0t · Answer

It's clearly unbalanced because you have 1 carbon, 4 hydrogen, and 1 oxygen on the reactant side and you have 2 carbons, 6 hydrogens, but still have 1 oxygen on the product side.

To balance it, you must put number to evenly make the same amount of each atom on both sides. It might help to make a chart with products and reactants on both sides.
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TO BALANCE, both numbers MUST be the same on both sides. atoms don't just disappear in a reaction. 

Remember that it follows the distributive property. For instance $\large A_3B_{10}$ here you have  three A's and 10 B's. But if you add a $\large 2$ in front, it follws the distributive property from algebra $\large 2A_3B_{10}$ now, you actually have $\large 6$ A's and $\large 10$ B's.

Play around with it until BOTH sides have equal number of atoms. If you still need more help, ask.