How to balance chemical equations? SIMPLY?

Step

1 Write down the formulae of the reactants and the products.

2 check the number of atoms of each elements on both sides of the equation.If the
equation is not balanced then proceed to step 3

3 balance the equation by placing the numbers in front of the formulae of the substances in
the equation.the number '1' is not written.

4 Include the state symbols in the equation.

For Example
STEP 1 CH4 + O2 --> CO2 +H2O

STEP 2 reactants products
1 carbon atom 1 carbon atom
4 hydrogen atoms 2 hydrogen atoms
2 oxygen atoms 3 oxygen atoms

STEP 3 CH4 + 2O2 --> CO2 + 2H2O

STEP 4 CH4(g) + 2O2(g) --> CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

It depends on whether you are talking about normal equations or redox equations, with redox being more difficult in general. Balancing equations means ensuring that they keep both the total amount of charge, as well as the total number of atoms constant.

The trick is to look for elements that appear only a few times first and balance them, then to move to elements that are more common (O and H are usually left until last in complicated equations, for example, because they appear almost everywhere).

For a simple reaction, try the reaction or magnesium with oxygen. Remember that you are not allowed to alter the identity of the symbols, just their total number (i.e. you can only place numbers before them).

Mg + O2 → MgO

You have 2 O atoms on the left, but only 1 on the right. You cannot make the right formula MgO2, since that alters the formula and is strictly forbidden. So, you need 2 MgO units to balance O.

Mg + O2 → 2MgO

Now you have 1 Mg on the left and 2 on the right, so add a 2 in front of the Mg.

2Mg + O2 → 2MgO

This is now balanced.

Another example is the reaction of phosphoric acid with calcium hydroxide.

H3PO4 + Ca(OH)2 → Ca3(PO4)2 + H2O

You see that the phosphate group does not change at all, so try balancing that first.

2H3PO4 + ?Ca(OH)2 → ?Ca3(PO4)2 + ?H2O

Next, look for other elements that can be balanced easily. Ca appears in only 2 entities, so try that.

2H3PO4 + 3Ca(OH)2 → Ca3(PO4)2 + ?H2O

Now just balance H and O. You have 12 H on the left, so you need 6 H2O molecules to balance them.

2H3PO4 + 3Ca(OH)2 → Ca3(PO4)2 + 6H2O

This is balanced, if you count the atoms.

In redox reactions, you have to balance charge as well. Try the oxidation of iron(II) sulphate with sodium dichromate in dilute sulphuric acid.

FeSO4 + Na2Cr2O7 + H2SO4 → Fe2(SO4)3 + Cr2(SO4)3 + Na2SO4 + H2O

First, you have to assign oxidation numbers and determine the changes (I won't go into detail here, since it makes the answer too long), and then balance the atoms involved in the actual redox reaction. Fe changes from +2 to +3, a total of +1 per Fe, and Cr changes from +6 to +3, a total of -3. So for every Cr, you need 3 Fe to balance (3×+1
-3 = 0). Since you start off with 2 Cr on the left, you can place 2 at the right, and you will have a total of 6 Fe.

6FeSO4 + Na2Cr2O7 + ?H2SO4 → 3Fe2(SO4)3 + Cr2(SO4)3 + ?Na2SO4 + ?H2O

Now balance other elements. Start with Na, since it occurs only in 2 entities.

6FeSO4 + Na2Cr2O7 + ?H2SO4 → 3Fe2(SO4)3 + Cr2(SO4)3 + Na2SO4 + ?H2O

Now tackle the SO4 ion. One side is complete, so balance the other. Count them carefully, you have 13 definite ones on the right, and 6 accounted for on the left, so you need 7 more.

6FeSO4 + Na2Cr2O7 + 7H2SO4 → 3Fe2(SO4)3 + Cr2(SO4)3 + Na2SO4 + ?H2O

Finally, balance out the H and O. Since the O in the SO4 ions won't change, you don't have to count them here (if the SO4 ion did change, then you'd count them, but here, they always stay the same), so you have 7 in the Na2Cr2O7, and need 7 on the right. Since you have 14 H on the left, this works out perfectly to form H2O.

6FeSO4 + Na2Cr2O7 + 7H2SO4 → 3Fe2(SO4)3 + Cr2(SO4)3 + Na2SO4 + 7H2O

This is balanced.

Hope that helps a bit. If you need more help, drop me a message and I'll try further.

in a be conscious equation you do no longer likely write interior the kind of moles etc as quickly as I did chemistry gcse i did no longer anyhow at chemistry a point you will possibly upload issues like "di" "tri" "tetra" for molecules etc i.e. F3CH tri-fluromethane. yet with moles you do no longer say it in a be conscious equations, so like say with this: 2C2H6 + 7O2 --> 6H2O + 4CO2 theres 2 moles of C2H6, 7 moles of O2 6 moles of H2O and four moles of CO2. you will not say the moles, you will possibly purely say: Ethane + Oxygen --> Water + Carbon Dioxide. i do no longer comprehend if this permits? xxx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnGu3xO2h74

The above video summarized the methods to balance chemical equations and is easy to understand.
Hope the link is useful for you.