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# How can I balance this equation? ____ N2 + ____ H2 ---> ____ NH3

May 13, 2014

This reaction is the synthesis of Ammonia using Nitrogen and Hydrogen gas.

$N + H \to N {H}_{3}$

We must remember that Nitrogen and Hydrogen are both diatomic molecules in their standard gas form. This adjusts the equation to

${N}_{2} + {H}_{2} \to N {H}_{3}$

Now we need to adjust coefficients in order to balance the atoms on each side of the equation. Currently we have 2 atoms of nitrogen and 2 atoms of hydrogen on the reactant side and 1 atom of nitrogen and 3 atoms of hydrogen on the product side.

We can balance the hydrogens by placing a coefficient of 2 in front of ammonia and a coefficient of 3 in front of the hydrogen.

${N}_{2} + 3 {H}_{2} \to 2 N {H}_{3}$

This gives us 6 hydrogen on each side and coincidentally the nitrogens now equal 2 on each side.

SMARTERTEACHER

Oct 29, 2015

${N}_{2}$ + 3${H}_{2}$ -----> 2N${H}_{3}$

#### Explanation:

${N}_{2}$ + ${H}_{2}$ -----> N${H}_{3}$

Let us balance this equation by counting the number of atoms on both sides of the arrow.

${N}_{2}$ + ${H}_{2}$ -----> N${H}_{3}$

N=2 , H=2 N=1, H=3

To balance the number of N atom on Right Hand Side (RHS) , I will add one molecule of N${H}_{3}$ on RHS

${N}_{2}$ + ${H}_{2}$ -----> 2N${H}_{3}$

N=2 , H=2 N=2 , H= 6

To balance the number of H atoms on Left Hand Side (LHS) , I will add two molecules of ${H}_{2}$ on LHS

${N}_{2}$ + 3${H}_{2}$ -----> 2N${H}_{3}$

N=2 , H=6 N=2 , H= 6