Balancing Chemical

Equations
LI: Looking at chemical properties before and
after a chemical reaction and why we balance
equations
The Law of Conservation of Mass states that
the amount of mass we put into the reaction
is the same as the amount of mass that we
get out of the reaction.

In todays lesson, we will see how

Conservation of Mass can be used to create
balanced chemical equations.
 Why do we need to balance equations?
A balanced equation is when the number of the different atoms of elements in the reactants side is
equal to the amount of atoms on the products side

The chemical equation needs to be balanced so that it follows the law of conservation of mass.

The law of conservation of mass states that the total mass of all the substances taking part in a
chemical reaction is conserved and the number of atoms of each element in the reaction does not
change when a new product is formed.
For example, the equation for the decompositon of sulfur dioxide to sulfur and oxygen is a
balanced equation:

We can tell it is balanced because we can count the same number and type of atoms on each
side.

Both have 11 sulfur and 22 oxygen atoms.

Sometimes this is easier to see using the molecular equation:

Determine whether this equation is balanced or unbalanced.
 In summary, you balance equations using the following steps:

• Write the chemical equation (write the word equation first and insert the chemical
symbols if you are having difficulty).

2. Balance the equation by adding more reactant or product molecules. Do NOT modify
these molecules. Add reactants to the left and products to the right.

3. Simplify the equation by combining molecules of the same type. Place a coefficient in
front of the molecule to show how many of that molecule there had been.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmdxMlb88Fs&ab_channel=WayneBreslyn
 Questions
Determine how many of each atom is needed to balance the equation

Outline the steps that you would take to balance the equation below. Make sure
to include to balanced equation in your answer.