Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing Equations

Guiding Question: Can you balance a chemical equation?

Lesson Plan
Overview: Learn the basics of chemical equations by watching methane bubbles light on fire. Practice balancing chemical equations.

Learning Goals:

● Balance chemical equations when given the formulas for the reactant(s) and product(s).

● Describe why a chemical equation is balanced when it has an equal number of atoms of each element on both sides of
the equation.

Key Concepts: Balancing Equations, Conservation of Mass in Chemical Reactions

Link to Simulation: https://interactives.ck12.org/simulations/chemistry/balancing-chemical-equations/app

Chemical reactions happen all the time, you just can’t always “see“ them
Background
happen. Video
Let’s take a closer look at the chemical reaction that takes place
when we light methane bubbles on fire. To form methane bubbles,
methane gas is released into soapy water.
Inside of a single bubble, there are many molecules of methane, CH4.
Outside of the bubbles there is air. A component of air is oxygen, O2.
Let’s zoom in on one of the methane molecules and two of the
oxygen molecules. With a little energy, we get a chemical reaction.
In a chemical reaction, atoms rearrange themselves to form a new
substance, or substances. Watch and see! One methane molecule and
two oxygen molecules react to form one carbon dioxide molecule
and two water molecules, as well as releasing some heat.

Simulation Overview
Chemical Equation Balancer
The blue arrows change the coefficients chemical in the equation.

Teacher Guide | Page 1

Table of Reactants and Products
This table shows how many of each atom are on both sides of the chemical equation. When the chemical equation is balanced the
numbers in each row will match and the label will change to read “balanced“ with a green background.

Next Equation
This button will take you to the next chemical equation that needs to be balanced. You do not need to balance the chemical equation you’re
working on to move on to the next one.

Teacher Guide | Page 2

 Real-World Connections

What chemical reaction supports

all life on earth?
Photosynthesis! Without plants the entire food web would lose
its foundation. All animals including humans ultimately
depend on plant material either directly, or
indirectly. Even the sugar you put in your tea, or the glass of
milk you drink or the turkey sandwich you ate at lunch,
all those things require one type of plant or another. We
can’t forget about the other product of photosynthesis,
oxygen! Animals require the oxygen released by plants.
Without photosynthesis, the amount of oxygen in the
atmosphere would decrease over time.
Why does copper turn green over
time?
Copper can turn green or blue depending on the type of reactants in
the environment.
2CuO + CO2+ H2O → Cu2CO3(OH)2 -- green
3CuO + 2CO2+ H2O → Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 -- green
4CuO + SO3+3H2O → Cu4SO4(OH)6 -- blue
Coins are exposed to all different elements.Think about a
penny that drops in the street and is exposed to rain. Rain isn't
just water - it often contains other molecules such as sulfur or
carbon dioxide from air pollutants. We refer to this as acid
rain.The acid, often coming from SO3 or CO2, is dissolved in
the raindrops and it reacts with the copper to produce one of
three compounds (the products listed above.

Why do muffins expand in the oven?

Baking soda reacts with acids - (citrus juice, buttermilk,
molasses, honey, and chocolate are all acidic) - to produce
carbon dioxide, which in turn puffs the batter. Without the
right ingredients in the right ratios, we will not get the
expected product.

Teacher Guide | Page 3

 Name: Date:

Balancing Chemical
Equations
Balancing Equations

Challenge Me Questions
Exploration 1-6: As you explore the simulation, answer the following questions.
Questions
1. What is the law of conservation of mass?

2. How is the law of conservation of mass related to balancing equations?

3. What is a balanced chemical equation?

4. Balance the following combustion reaction, and draw a corresponding picture of the correct number of
particles.

C2H4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

5. I have ten moles of iron atoms in the reactant side of a reaction. Do I have enough information to determine how
many moles of iron atoms I will have following the reaction? If so, how many moles of iron atoms will I have at the
end of a reaction? If not, what else do I need to know?

6. I have three moles of Methane (CH4) on the reactant side of the reaction. Do I have enough information to determine
how many moles of products I will have following a reaction? If not, what else do I need to know?

Exploration Worksheet | Page 1

 Name: Date:

Check My

Questions 7-14: Circle the choice that best answers each question.

7. A balanced chemical equation is a chemical 11. Which molecule will balance the following equation
equation in which is conserved and there are
4 NH3 + 5 → 4 NO + 6 H2O
equal numbers of of each element on both
sides of the equation. a. O
a. Mass, molecules b. O2
b. Mass, atoms c. H2O
c. Volume, molecules d. NO2
d. Moles, atoms
12. Fill in the missing number to balance the equation. 2

8. What can be different between the products and Fe + 3 H2SO4 → 1 Fe2(SO4)3 + H2

reactants in a balanced chemical equation? a. 3
a. Total mass b. 6
b. Total moles of individual elements c. 2
c. Number of molecules d. 4
d. Types of atoms
13. Balanced chemical reactions obey the law of
9. Fill in the missing number to balance the equation. 1 conservation of mass

C4H10O + O2 → 4CO2 + 5H2O a. True

a. 4 b. False

b. 8
14. If I have 8 moles of Iron atoms in the products,
c. 6 how many moles of Iron atoms did I start with?
d. 13 a. 8
b. 16
10. What is similar between the products and
reactants in a balanced chemical equation? c. 1

a. Total moles of individual elements d. Not enough information

b. Types of molecules
c. Number of molecules
d. Volume of particles

Exploration Worksheet | Page 2