Question

Question #ee915

Answer 1

You need to have an equal number of atoms either side of the reaction arrow. You need to balance the scale. If there are 3 Na atoms on one side you need to have 3 Na atoms on the other side.

But remember,
2 `O_2` = 4 `O` because 2x2=4

It is a bit of a trial and error method

Answer 2

Chemical equilibrium can be achieved by equating the number of atoms on both side of the chemical equation.

Explanation:

It may sounds very simple, yet sometimes it can be very confusing in balancing the chemical equation. To learn this, I will use the simplest and the most popular example of all time, which is the Haber process. Haber process is one of the most important chemical reactions in the world because this is the reaction that produces ammonia.

In words, Haber process can be shown as following:
Nitrogen + Hydrogen `rarr` Ammonia

In the form of chemical equation, it is:
`N_2 + H_2 rarr NH_2` (unbalanced)

To balance this equation, we will first equate the number of nitrogen atoms on both sides, then the number of hydrogen atoms, as shown below.

`N_2 + H_2 rarr 2NH_2` (There are 2 N's on the left, therefore we add a multiplier of 2 on the right.)

`N_2 + 2H_2 rarr 2NH_2` (Since a multiplier of 2 had been added to the right, the total of H on the right is 4. Therefore, we give `H_2` a multiplier of 2 as well.) ---- BALANCED!!!

This is one of the easiest equations to balance, however when the equation gets more complicated, for example, more materials are involved, it maybe very confusing in balancing the equation.

The general guideline is shown as following:

1. Balance the backbone material of the reaction, typically there are metals (`Na, Cu, Zn,` and so on) or sometimes can be Group IV or Group V materials (`C, Si, N,` and so on).

2. Then, balance the rest of the atoms, typically there are non-metals, such as `H, O, Cl, Br,` and so on).