How do I balance ammonia(g)+oxygen(g)nitrogen monoxide(g)+water(l) correctly?

Question

How do I balance ammonia(g)+oxygen(g)>>nitrogen monoxide(g)+water(l) correctly?

dtan5457 · Answer

I got 2NH3(g)+2.5O2(g)>>2NO(g)+3H2O

Will this work? The book says it's 

4NH3+5O2>>>>4NO+6H2O

So they multiplied it by 2 to get rid of the fraction, but are fractions allowed.?

dtan5457 · Answer

@Jhannybean

dtan5457 · Answer

@Zale101

jhannybean · Answer

Didn't we do this yesterday?

dtan5457 · Answer

we never really balanced it...but also I think you wrote NH4 as ammonia which got me confused

zale101 · Answer

Fractions aren't allowed when balancing

dtan5457 · Answer

o

jhannybean · Answer

$$\sf 2NH_3~ (g) + \frac{5}{2} O_2 ~(g) \longrightarrow 2NO~(g)+3H_2O~(l)$$$$\sf 4 NH_3~(g) +5O_2~(g) \longrightarrow 4NO~(g) +6H_2O~(l)$$

jhannybean · Answer

Because you cannot have fractions when writing chemical equations, you need to multiply the ENTIRE equation by the denominator of the fraction  to get rid of it.

jhannybean · Answer

Always take the most complicated compound, regardless of side, and balance all the components in that first.

jhannybean · Answer

Because I had 5 oxygens on the right side and only 2 on the left side, I wanted 5 of those oxygens, so i used 5/2 to get that. Then everything else automatically balances.

dtan5457 · Answer

Yeah, I see it now. I just didn't know fractions weren't allowed

jhannybean · Answer

And remember, $\sf NH_4^+$ = ammonium, and $\sf NH_3^+$ = ammonia. Don't try to make it harder than it needs to be, just memorize the polyatomics and monatomics.