# Is the following equation balanced? NH2CH2COOH (s) + 9/4 O2 --> 2 CO2 (s) + 5/2 H2O (l) + 1/2 N2 (g)

Nov 10, 2015

The correct equation is $\text{4NH"_2"CH"_2"COOH(s)" + "9O"_2("g")}$$\rightarrow$$\text{8CO"_2("g") + 10"H"_2"O"("l")" + 2N"_2}$ .

#### Explanation:

It is not properly balanced. A balanced equation should have only whole number coefficients.

$\text{NH"_2"CH"_2"COOH(s)" + "9/4O"_2("g")}$$\rightarrow$$\text{2CO"_2("g") + "5/2H"_2"O"("l") + "1/2N"_2("g")}$

The common denominator of the fraction coefficients is 4. Multiply all coefficients times 4.

$\text{4NH"_2"CH"_2"COOH(s)" + "9O"_2("g")}$$\rightarrow$$\text{8CO"_2("g") + (5*4)/2"H"_2"O"("l")} + \frac{1 \cdot 4}{2} {N}_{2}$

Simplify the fractions on the right side of the equation.

$\text{4NH"_2"CH"_2"COOH(s)" + "9O"_2("g")}$$\rightarrow$$\text{8CO"_2("g") + 20/2"H"_2"O"("l")} + \frac{4}{2} {N}_{2}$

Reduce the fractions on the right side.

$\text{4NH"_2"CH"_2"COOH(s)" + "9O"_2("g")}$$\rightarrow$$\text{8CO"_2("g") + 10"H"_2"O"("l")" + 2N"_2}$