Assignment: Steps in balancing by redox

Step 1: Try to balance the atoms in the equation by inspection, that is, by the standard technique

for balancing non-redox equations. (Many equations for redox reactions can be easily balanced

by inspection.) If you successfully balance the atoms, go to Step 2. If you are unable to balance

the atoms, go to Step 3.

Step 2: Check to be sure that the net charge is the same on both sides of the equation. If it is,

you can assume that the equation is correctly balanced. If the charge is not balanced, go to Step

3.

Step 3: If you have trouble balancing the atoms and the charge by inspection, determine the

oxidation numbers for the atoms in the formula, and use them to decide whether the reaction is a

redox reaction. If it is not redox, return to Step 1 and try again. If it is redox, go to Step 4.

Step 4: Determine the net increase in oxidation number for the element that is oxidized and the

net decrease in oxidation number for the element that is reduced.

Step 5: Determine a ratio of oxidized to reduced atoms that would yield a net increase in

oxidation number equal to the net decrease in oxidation number (a ratio that makes the number

of electrons lost equal to the number of electrons gained).

Step 6: Add coefficients to the formulas so as to obtain the correct ratio of the atoms whose

oxidation numbers are changing. (These coefficients are usually placed in front of the formulas

on the reactant side of the arrow.)

Step 7: Balance the rest of the equation by inspection.

Stoichiometry- the portion of chemistry dealing with numerical relationships in chemical

reactions; the calculation of quantities of substances involved in chemical equations.

Molecular weight- The sum of the atomic weights of all the atoms in a molecule.

 is the mass of one molecule of a substance and is expressed in the unified atomic mass

units (u). (1 u is equal to 1/12 the mass of one atom of carbon-12)

 Molar mass (molar weight) is the mass of one mole of a substance and is expressed in

g/mol.

Steps in calculating molecular weight:

 The molecular formula tells you how many atoms of each element is present in

the compound. To find the molecular weight, just add up the atomic weights of

each element present in the compound, being sure to multiply by the number of

times that atom appears. The atomic weight of each element is found on a

periodic table.

Example:

What is the molecular weight of methane, CH4?

Answer: The formula for methane is CH4, which means there is one carbon atom

(C) and 4 hydrogen atoms. From the periodic table, the atomic weight of carbon is

12.011 grams per mole, and the atomic weight of hydrogen is 1.01 grams per

mole. Adding them up, we have

12.01 g/mol + 4*1.01 g/mol = 16.05 grams per mole

Percent composition of compounds

  is a relative measure of the mass of each different element present in the

compound.

Steps in calculating the percent composition (percentage composition) of a compound:

 Calculate the molecular mass (molecular weight, formula mass, formula weight), MM, of

the compound

 Calculate the total mass of each element present in the formula of the compound

 Calculate the percent composition (percentage composition): % by weight (mass) of

element

    = (total mass of element present ÷ molecular mass) x 100

Calculate the percent by weight of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) in sodium chloride (NaCl)

 Calculate the molecular mass (MM):

MM = 22.99 + 35.45 = 58.44

 Calculate the total mass of Na present:

1 Na is present in the formula, mass = 22.99

 Calculate the percent by weight of Na in NaCl:

%Na = (mass Na ÷ MM) x 100 = (22.99 ÷ 58.44) x 100 = 39.34%

 Calculate the total mass of Cl present:

1 Cl is present in the formula, mass = 35.45

 Calculate the percent by weight of Cl in NaCl:

%Cl = (mass Cl ÷ MM) x 100 = (35.45 ÷ 58.44) x 100 = 60.66%

    The answers above are probably correct if %Na + %Cl = 100, that is,

    39.34 + 60.66 = 100.