Balancing Chemical Equations (OCR Gateway GCSE Chemistry: Combined Science)

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Balancing Chemical Equations

Representing Reactions as Equations

  • Chemical equations use the chemical symbols of each reactant and product
  • When balancing equations, there has to be the same number of atoms of each element on either side of the equation in accordance with the Law of Conservation of Mass
  • The following nonmetals must be written as molecules: H2, N2, O2, F2, Cl2, Br2 and I2
    To balance an equation you work across the equation from left to right, checking one element after another
  • If there is a group of atoms, for example a nitrate group (NO3) that has not changed from one side to the other, then count the whole group as one entity rather than counting the individual atoms
    • Examples of chemical equations:
      • Acid-base neutralisation reaction:
        NaOH (aq) + HCl (aq)  ⟶ NaCl (aq) + H2O (l) 
      • Redox reaction:
        2Fe2O3 (aq) + 3C (s) ⟶ 4Fe (s) + 3CO2 (g)
      • In each equation there are equal numbers of each atom on either side of the reaction arrow so the equations are balanced

Balancing Equations

  • The best approach is to practice lot of examples of balancing equations
  • By trial and error change the coefficients (multipliers) in front of the formulae, one by one checking the result on the other side
  • Balance elements that appear on their own, last in the process

Worked example

Example 1

Balance the following equation:

aluminium + copper(II)oxide ⟶ aluminium oxide + copper 

Unbalanced symbol equation:


Al + CuO ⟶ Al2O3 + Cu

Answer

Balancing Equations WE1 1, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

Worked example

Example 2:

Balance the following equation:

magnesium oxide + nitric acid ⟶ magnesium nitrate + water 

Unbalanced symbol equation:


MgO + HNO3 ⟶ Mg(NO3)2 + H2O

Answer

Balancing Equations WE2 1, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

State Symbols

  • State symbols are written after formulae in chemical equations to show which physical state each substance is in:

Using state symbols table, IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

  • Sometimes it can be hard to know what the correct state symbol is and we have to look for clues in the identity of substances in a reaction
  • Generally, unless they are in a solution:
    • Metal compounds will always be solid, although there are a few exceptions
    • Ionic compounds will usually be solids
  • Non-metal compounds could be solids, liquids or gases, so it depends on chemical structure
  • Precipitates formed in solution count as solids
  • In the worked examples above the final equations with the state symbols would be

2Al (s) + 3CuO (s) ⟶ Al2O3 (s) + 3Cu (s)

MgO (s)  + 2HNO3 (aq)  ⟶ Mg(NO3)2 (aq)  + H2O (l)

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Stewart

Author: Stewart

Expertise: Chemistry Lead

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.