Chemistry : Balanced Chemical Equations from Word Equations

How to Obtain a Balanced Chemical Equation?

A chemical equation must be balanced in accordance with the Law of Conservation of Matter. The Law states that matter is neither created nor destroyed during the chemical change that occurs in a chemical reaction. So, the total mass of reactants must equal the total mass of products in a balanced chemical equation.

In a balanced chemical equation, the number of atoms of each element in the reactants equals the number of atoms of each element in the products, since atoms are neither created nor destroyed.

Example:

Word Equation : Sulfur + Sulfuric acid → Sulfur dioxide + Water

Molecular Equation : ___ S + ___ H₂SO₄ → ___ SO₂ + ___ H₂O
No of atoms : 2 S , 2 H , 4 O → 1 S , 2 H, 3 O

Balance O atoms : ___ S + ___ H₂SO₄ → ___ SO₂ + 2 H₂O
No of atoms : 2 S , 2 H , 4 O → 1 S , 4 H, 4 O

Balance H atoms : ___ S + 2 H₂SO₄ → ___ SO₂ + 2 H₂O
No of atoms : 3 S , 4 H , 8 O → 1 S , 4 H, 4 O

Balance S atoms : ___ S + 2 H₂SO₄ → 3 SO₂ + 2 H₂O
No of atoms : 3 S , 4 H , 8 O → 3 S , 4 H, 8 O

Balanced Equation : S + 2 H₂SO₄ → 3 SO₂ + 2 H₂O

Practice Exercise for Chemistry Module on Balanced Chemical Equations from Word Equations

Practice Exercise for Chemistry Module on Balancing Chemical Equations