How do you balance a chemical equation? For example: #H_2 + O_2 = H_2O#

1 Answer
anor277
May 29, 2016

#"Garbage in equals garbage out!"#

Explanation:

In every chemical reaction mass is conserved. If I start with #10*g# of reactant, at most I am going to #10*g# of product. In practice, I am not even going to get that, because losses invariably occur on handling.

So to your question:

#H_2(g) + 1/2O_2(g) rarr H_2O(l)#

Is mass conserved here? How would I remove the non-integral stoichiometric coefficient? What is a stoichiometric coefficient?

Here is a similar question. Methane, #CH_4#, burns on a gas cooker. It combines with oxygen, #O_2#, to give carbon dioxide, #CO_2#, and water, #H_2O#.

#"Methane + oxygen "rarr" carbon dioxide + water"#

Can you propose a balanced symbol equation? What about for ehane, #H_3C-CH_3#?

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