A LevelChemistryAQARevision Notes1. Physical Chemistry1.2 Formulae, Equations & Calculations1.2.3 Balanced Equations

Balanced Equations (AQA A Level Chemistry)

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Deducing Formulae of Compounds

  • Ionic compounds are formed from a metal and a non-metal bonded together
  • Ionic compounds are electrically neutral; the positive charges equal the negative charges

Charges on positive ions

  • All metals form positive ions
    • There are also some non-metal positive ions, such as ammonium, NH4+, and hydrogen, H+

  • The metals in Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 (13) have a charge of 1+ and 2+ and 3+ respectively
  • The charge on the ions of the transition elements can vary which is why Roman numerals are often used to indicate their charge
  • Roman numerals are used in some compounds formed from transition elements to show the charge (or oxidation state) of metal ions
    • E.g. in copper (II) oxide, the copper ion has a charge of 2+ whereas in copper (I) nitrate, the copper has a charge of 1+

Non-metal ions

  • The non-metals in group 15 to 17 have a negative charge and have the suffix ‘ide’
    • E.g. nitride, chloride, bromide, iodide

  • Elements in group 17 gain 1 electron so have a 1- charge, eg. Br-
  • Elements in group 16 gain 2 electrons so have a 2- charge, eg. O2-
  • Elements in group 15 gain 3 electrons so have a 3- charge, eg. N3-
  • There are also polyatomic negative ions, which are negative ions made up of more than one type of atom

 Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry Ionic Charges, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

The charges of simple ions depend on their position in the Periodic Table

Formulae of Ionic Compounds Table

Ion Formula
Silver(I) Ag+
Ammonium NH4+
Zinc(II) Zn2+
Hydroxide OH–
Nitrate NO3–
Sulfate SO42–
Carbonate CO32–
Hydrogen carbonate HCO3–
Phosphate PO43–

Worked example

Formulae
Determine the formulae of the following ionic compounds

  1.    Magnesium chloride
  2.    Iron(III) oxide
  3.    Aluminium nitrate

Answer 1: Magnesium chloride

  • Magnesium is in Group 2 so has a charge of 2+
  • Chlorine is in group 17 so has a charge of 1-
  • Magnesium needs two chloride ions for each magnesium ion to be balanced so the formula is MgCl2

Answer 2: Iron (III) oxide

  • The Roman numeral states that iron has a charge of 3+
  • Oxygen is in group 16 so has a charge of 2-
  • The charges need to be equal so 2 iron ions to 3 oxide ions will balance electrically, so the formula is Fe2O3

Answer 3: Aluminum nitrate

  • Aluminium is in group 13 so has a charge of 3+
  • Nitrate is a polyatomic ion and has a charge of 1-
  • The polyatomic ion needs to be placed in a bracket if more than 1 is needed
  • The formula of aluminium nitrate is Al(NO3)3

Examiner Tip

Remember: Polyatomic ions are ions that contain more than one type of element, such as OH-

Balancing Equations

  • A symbol equation is a shorthand way of describing a chemical reaction using chemical symbols to show the number and type of each atom in the reactants and products
  • A word equation is a longer way of describing a chemical reaction using only words to show the reactants and products

Balancing equations

  • During chemical reactions, atoms cannot be created or destroyed
  • The number of each atom on each side of the reaction must therefore be the same
    • E.g. the reaction needs to be balanced

  • When balancing equations remember:
    • Not to change any of the formulae
    • To put the numbers used to balance the equation in front of the formulae
    • To balance firstly the carbon, then the hydrogen and finally the oxygen in combustion reactions of organic compounds

  • When balancing equations follow the following the steps:
    • Write the formulae of the reactants and products
    • Count the numbers of atoms in each reactant and product
    • Balance the atoms one at a time until all the atoms are balanced
    • Use appropriate state symbols in the equation

  • The physical state of reactants and products in a chemical reaction is specified by using state symbols
    • (s) solid
    • (l) liquid
    • (g) gas
    • (aq) aqueous

Ionic Equations

Ionic equations

  • In aqueous solutions ionic compounds dissociate into their ions
  • Many chemical reactions in aqueous solutions involve ionic compounds, however only some of the ions in solution take part in the reactions
  • The ions that do not take part in the reaction are called spectator ions
  • An ionic equation shows only the ions or other particles taking part in a reaction, and not the spectator ions

Worked example

Balance the following equation:

magnesium + oxygen → magnesium oxide

Answer:

  • Step 1: Write out the symbol equation showing reactants and products

Mg + O2 → MgO

  • Step 2: Count the number of atoms in each reactant and product

  Mg O
Reactants 1 2
Products 1 1

  • Step 3: Balance the atoms one at a time until all the atoms are balanced

2Mg + O2 → 2MgO

    • This is now showing that 2 moles of magnesium react with 1 mole of oxygen to form 2 moles of magnesium oxide

  • Step 4: Use appropriate state symbols in the fully balanced equation

2Mg (s) + O2 (g) → 2MgO (s)

Worked example

1. Balance the following equation:

zinc + copper(II) sulfate → zinc(II) sulfate + copper

2. Write the ionic equation for the above reaction.

Answer 1:

  • Step 1: To balance the equation, write out the symbol equation showing reactants and products

Zn  + CuSO4  → ZnSO4 + Cu

  • Step 2: Count the number of atoms in each reactant and product. The equation is already balanced

  Zn Cu S O
Reactants 1 1 1 4
Products 1 1 1 4

  • Step 3: Use appropriate state symbols in the equation

Zn (s)  + CuSO4 (aq)  → ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)

Answer 2:

  • Step 1:  The full chemical equation for the reaction is

Zn (s)  + CuSO4 (aq)  → ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)

  • Step 2:  Break down reactants into their respective ions

Zn (s)  + Cu2+ SO42- (aq)  → Zn2+SO42- (aq) + Cu (s) 

  • Step 3:  Cancel the spectator ions on both sides to give the ionic equation

Zn (s)  + Cu2+SO42- (aq)  → Zn2+SO42- (aq) + Cu (s)

Zn (s)  + Cu2+(aq)  → Zn2+ (aq) + Cu (s)

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    Stewart

    Author: Stewart

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    Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Exam Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.