How to balance complicated chemical equations?

1 Answer
anor277
Jul 29, 2017

Every chemical equation balances MASS and CHARGE.......

Explanation:

You gots a metal carbonate, say #ZnCO_3(s)#:

#ZnCO_3(s) + 2HCl(aq) rarr ZnCl_2(aq) + CO_2(g)uarr+H_2O(l)#

Are mass and charge balanced here? If they are not then you cannot accept the equation as a representation of chemical reality. And if you start with #10*g# of reactant from all sources, you inevitably finish with #10*g# product.......

The lesson that I try to reinforce is that #"mass and charge are CONSERVED"#.

Carbonates (and these are often insoluble salts) react with acids according to the following net ionic equation......

#CO_3^(2-) + 2H^(+) rarr CO_2(g) +H_2O(l)#

You simply have to know these reactions, and how to balance them stoichiometrically.

And likewise for bicarbonates......

#HCO_3^(-) + H^(+) rarr CO_2(g)uarr + H_2O(l)#

Bicarbonate salts TEND to be soluble. Carbonate salts tend to be insoluble. But this is the province of experiment.

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