Question

Balancing equations @l3brainy

Answer 1

\[\ \text{Hydrogen and Oxygen are diatomic normally \in nature and they occur like this} ~H_2 \text{and} O_2\]

Answer 2

Hydrogen combines with Oxygen to make H2O

Answer 3

Hi. c: Thank you for making this!

Answer 4

\[\LARGE H_2+O_2 \rightarrow H_2O\]

Answer 5

How ever, there are 4 atoms on one side and 3 on the other

Answer 6

Balancing equations is basically putting coefficients (numbers in front) in front of the elements and compounds that multiply the number

Ex: the coefficient here \[\Large \color{blue}{4}{H}_\color{orange}2\]=\[\Large H_\color{orange}2+ H_\color{orange}2+ H_\color{orange}2+ H_\color{orange}2=\text{8 molecules}\]

Answer 7

Oh because oxygen usually has 8 right?

Answer 8

In short you could've easily just multiplied the 4 by the 2 to get 8 as well.

Answer 9

@l3rainy each molecule in there counts once. The 8 you're talking about is the atomic number (number of protons the element has) for oxygen. I'm just saying that \[O_2\]
is actually just two oxygen atoms

Answer 10

The atoms on each side of the equation have to match up, because there's a law (law of conservation of mass) that says that mass cannot be created nor destroyed, just transformed into different phases. It's ok to say that hydrogen and oxygen combine to make water, but then again they ca combine to make other things like peroxide and also when you deal with medicine and mixing it in the right amounts, it's essential to know how much you mix together. Now do you know how to star on this?

Answer 11

You have to look at the charges right? Based on the groups on the periodic table. I think I am definitely getting an idea. I understand now why both sides of the equation have to balance. :)

Answer 12

Yeah, that's a shortcut for later :). But we'll first look at this checklist when we do balancing and this generally works


Check for diatomic molecules.
Balance the metals (not Hydrogen).
Balance the nonmetals (not Oxygen).
Balance oxygen.
Balance hydrogen.
The equation should now be balanced, but recount all atoms to be sure.
Reduce coefficients (if needed).

Answer 13

We can skip steps 1-3 since we only have hydrogen and oxygen. Now we will work to "balance" oxygen

Answer 14

Okay. c: 2H then right to balance out the oxygen?

Answer 15

(on both sides I mean)

Answer 16

Yes, that's correct, now you have to look at the oxygen first though. It has 2 on the left side bu one on the right side. Based on our rules, we will balance them first and if there's two on the left side and 1 on the right side, what would you do to the left side?

Answer 17

H2 + O2 --> H20
2H2 + O2 --> 2H20

Answer 18

Great, just so you know you would put a 2 on the right side so there are 2 oxygen on both sides. Then you see that you have 2 hydrogen on one side and 4 on the other so that then leads you to to put a 2 in front of the hydrogen on the left side.

Answer 19

Ok! Thank you so much. :D My hw is a bit more complicated then this with quite a few different ions (ugh) but this is very helpful for understanding the concept behind balancing an equation.

Answer 20

Yeah, anytime.