BALANCING CHEMICAL

EQUATIONS
In a balanced chemical equation, the total number
of atoms each element present is the same on
both sides of the equation.

Stoichiometric coefficients are the coefficients

required to balance a chemical equation. These
are important because they relate the amounts of
reactants used and products formed.
There are several important rules
for balancing an equation:
• 1. an equation can be balanced only by adjusting the coefficients.
• 2. the equation must include only reactants and products that
participate in the reaction.
• 3. never change the equation in order to balance it.
• 4. if an element occurs in only one compound on each side of the
equation, try balancing it first.
• 5. when one element exist as a free element, balance this element
last.
 Step-by-Step Example Problem:
Step 1: Determine number of atoms for
each element.
Mg + O2 MgO
Mg = 1 Mg = 1
O =2 O =1
Step 2: Pick an element that is
not equal on both sides of the
equation.
Mg + O2 MgO
Mg = 1 Mg = 1
O =2 O =1
Step 3: Add a coefficient in front of the formula
with that element and adjust your counts.

Mg + O2 2 MgO

Mg = 1 Mg = 1 2
O =2 O =1 2
Step 4: Continue adding coefficients to
get the same number of atoms of each
element on each side.
2 Mg + O2 2 MgO
Mg = 1 2 Mg = 1 2
O=2 O=12
Practice: Balance the following chemical
equations.
1. Na3PO4+KOH→NaOH+K3PO4

2. MgF2+Li2CO3→MgCO3+LiF

3. RbNO3+BeF2→Be(NO3)2+RbF

4. AgNO3+Cu→Cu(NO3)2+Ag

5. P4+O2→P2O3
Practice: Balance the following chemical
equations.
1. Na3PO4+KOH→NaOH+K3PO4
Ans. Na3PO4+3KOH→3NaOH+K3PO4
2. MgF2+Li2CO3→MgCO3+LiF
Ans. MgF2+Li2CO3→MgCO2+2LiF
3. RbNO3+BeF2→Be(NO3)2+RbF
Ans.2RbNO3+BeF2→Be(NO3)2+2RbF
4. AgNO3+Cu→Cu(NO3)2+Ag
Ans. 2AgNO3+Cu→Cu(NO3)2+2Ag
5. P4+O2→P2O3
Ans. P4+3O2→2P2O3
 Exercises: Balance the following equations.

1. SiO2+HF→SiF4+H2O
2. C2H6O+O2→CO2+H2O
3. CaCl2+Na3PO4→Ca3(PO4)2+NaCl
4. Cr2O3+Mg→Cr+MgO
5. Al+HCl→AlCl3+H2
6. NaBr+Cl2→NaCl+Br2
7. NH4NO3→N2O+H2O
8. As4S6+O2→As4O6+SO2
9. N2H4+O2→NO2+H2O
10. Al+Ni(NO3)2→Al(NO3)3+Ni
Answer:
1. SiO2+4HF→SiF4+2H2O
2. C2H6O+3O2→2CO2+3H2O
3. 3CaCl2+2Na3PO4→Ca3(PO4)2+6NaCl
4. Cr2O3+3Mg→2Cr+3MgO
5. 2Al+6HCl→2AlCl3+3H2
6. 2NaBr+Cl2→2NaCl+Br2
7. NH4NO3→N2O+2H2O
8. As4S6+9O2→As4O6+6SO2
9. N2H4+3O2→2NO2+2H2O
10. 2Al+3Ni(NO3)2→2Al(NO3)3+3Ni
1. H2 + O2 → H2O 6. Ca + N2 → Ca3N2
2. Na + Cl2 → NaCl 7. Li + F2 → LiF
3. N2O4 → NO2 8. Mg + N2 → Mg3N2
4. Mg + O2 → MgO 9. NH3 → N2 + H2

5. H2O2 → H2O + O2 10. HCl → H2 + Cl2

1. HgO → Hg + O2 9. C + O2 → CO
2. Al + I2 → AlI3 10. CO + O2 → CO2
3. Al + S → Al2S3 11. Mg + Cl2 → MgCl2
4. Na + H2O → NaOH + H2 12. Ag2O → Ag + O2
5. NO + O2 → NO2 13. K + O2 → K2O
6. Na2O + H2O → NaOH 14. Cl2 + F2 → ClF3
7. CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O 15. SiO2 + C → Si + CO
8. PbO + C → Pb + CO2