Balancing Equations

Grade 10 Chemistry
 At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

OUTCOMES
LEARNING 1 identify the different parts and symbols used in
chemical equations;

2 balance chemical equations; and

realize the importance of balancing equations in

3 daily life.
ENGAGE
Write A if the given situation shows evidence
of a chemical change and B if it does not.

1 1 Bleaching a stain
Write A if the given situation shows evidence
of a chemical change and B if it does not.

2 1 Inflating a balloon
Write A if the given situation shows evidence
of a chemical change and B if it does not.

3 1 Chopping a potato
Write A if the given situation shows evidence
of a chemical change and B if it does not.

4 1 Digesting a chocolate bar

Write A if the given situation shows evidence
of a chemical change and B if it does not.

5 1 Developing a Polaroid picture

ENGAGE

Have you ever observed a wood being burned?

As the wood is being burned, you noticed that parts
of it are turning into ash.
ENGAGE

What if you will weigh the wood before burning

and the ash after burning, do you think they will
weigh the same?
EXPLAIN
EXPLAIN 1. What made you say that
the equation is
balanced?

Interactive
 1. What made you say that the equation is
balanced?

EXPLAIN
If the number of atoms of
each element in the
reactants side is equal to
the number of atoms of
each element in the product
side.
Interactive
EXPLAIN
2. Why is it not possible
to just change H2O to
H2O to make it
balanced?

Interactive
EXPLAIN
2. Why is it not possible to just change
H2O to H2O2 to make it balanced?

Because H2O is different

from H2O2 in terms of
chemical structure and
properties.
Interactive
From the activity, you see one of the common
chemical reactions which is the production of
water from hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.
Chemists use Chemical Equations to describe
chemical reactions.

In a chemical reaction, there are two kinds of

substances involved.
Reactant is a substance used up during a
chemical reaction.

Products is a substance formed after a chemical

reaction.

In equation:
Reactants → Products
Example:

Hydrogen + Oxygen → Water

or

H2 + O2 → H2O
Below is a list of symbols that are used in a chemical equation.

Symbol Meaning

+ used to separate one reactant or product from another

used to separate the reactants from the products - it is pronounced "yields"

or "produces" when the equation is read

used when the reaction can proceed in both directions - this is called an
equilibrium arrow and will be used later in the course

(g) indicates that the substance is in a gaseous state

Below is a list of symbols that are used in a chemical equation.

Symbol Meaning

an alternative way of representing a substance in a gaseous state

(s) indicates that the substance is in a solid state

an alternative way of representing a substance in a solid state

indicates that the substance is dissolved in water - the aq comes from
(aq)
aqueous
indicates that heat is applied to make the reaction proceed
Balancing chemical equations is so easy. Here
are the steps for you to be guided:

1. Write the unbalanced chemical equation.

2. Balance the coefficient using inspection
method. Add the coefficients before the
formula of each substance. Do not change
the identities (formula) of any of the
reactants or products by changing the
subscripts (the number after an element, 2 in
case of H2O).
3. Check to see that the coefficients used give
the same number of each type of atom on
both sides of the equation. Be sure that the
coefficients used are the smallest integers
that give the balanced equation.
Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
H2(g) + O2(g) → H2O (l)
 Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
H2(g) + O2(g) → H2O (l)

1. Write the unbalanced chemical equation. Your goal is to make the number of
Hydrogen and Oxygen the same in the reactant and product side.

H2(g) + O2(g) → H2O (l)

 Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
H2(g) + O2(g) → H2O (l)

Reactants Products
Hydrogen 2 2
Oxygen 2 1

Notice that the number of oxygen atoms in the reactant side is greater than in the
product side.
 Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
H2(g) + O2(g) → H2O (l)

2. You cannot change the H2O to H2O2 because that will change the formula and
identity of the product. Water (H2O) is a different substance to Hydrogen
Peroxide (H2O2). You will use coefficients to make it balanced.

Adjust the coefficients of the formula to balance the equation. In balancing an

equation, the smallest whole number coefficients are generally used. What
coefficient should you place before H2O to balance the equation?
 Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
H2(g) + O2(g) → H2O (l)

Placing “2” in front of H2O increases the number of hydrogen and of oxygen atoms
in the product side. There are now 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms in the
product side.

H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O (l)

 Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
H2(g) + O2(g) → H2O (l)

H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O (l)

Reactants Products
Hydrogen 2 2x2=4
Oxygen 2 1x2=2

This time, there are less hydrogen atoms in the reactant side (2) than there are in the
product side (4).
 Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
H2(g) + O2(g) → H2O (l)

What number should you place before H2 to balance the equation? Try placing a
“2”.

2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O (l)

Reactants Products
Hydrogen 2x2=4 2x2=4
Oxygen 2 2
 Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
H2(g) + O2(g) → H2O (l)

3. Check if the equation is completely balanced.

2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O (l)

Reactants Products
Hydrogen 4 4
Oxygen 2 2
 Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
H2(g) + O2(g) → H2O (l)

Answer:
2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O (l)

Note that choosing the right coefficient is done by trial and error. If you carefully
check the numbers of each atom every time a coefficient is changed, you reduce the
trial and eliminate the error.
Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
Na (s) + S8 (s) → Na2S (s)
Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
Na (s) + S8 (s) → Na2S (s)

Solution:
Na (s) + S8 (s) → Na2S (s)

Reactants Products
Sodium 1 2
Sulfur 8 1
Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
Na (s) + S8 (s) → Na2S (s)

16Na (s) + S8 (s) → 8Na2S (s)

Reactants Products
Sodium 1x 16 = 16 2 x 8 = 16
Sulfur 8x1=8 1x8=8
Sample Problem:
Balance the equation:
Na (s) + S8 (s) → Na2S (s)

Answer:
16Na (s) + S8 (s) → 8Na2S (s)
ELABORA
TE
ELABORAT
ELABORAT
EE Conservation of
Mass
Chemical reactions also follow
Law of Conservation of Mass.
You’ve already learned this in
your Grade 8 Chemistry.
ELABORAT
ELABORAT
EE Conservation of
Mass
According to this law, matter is
neither created nor destroyed.
This means, in a chemical
reaction, amount of elements
remains the same before and
after the reaction.
ELABORAT
ELABORAT
EE Conservation of
Mass
This law is actually the basis of
balancing chemical equations.
The number of atoms of elements
in the reactant side should always
be the same as the number of its
atoms in the product side.
ELABORAT
ELABORAT
EE Conservation
Mass
of

For example, burning wood using

fire. In this reaction, the wood
combines with oxygen and
changes not only to ashes but
also produces carbon dioxide and
water vapor. These gases float off
into the air, leaving behind the
ashes of the wood.
ELABORAT
ELABORAT
EE Conservation
Mass
of

If you measured the mass of the

wood before it burned and the
mass of the ashes after it burned;
and also if you had been able to
measure the oxygen used by the
fire and the gases produced by
the fire, what would you find?
ELABORAT
ELABORAT
EE Conservation of
Mass
The total mass of matter after the
fire would be the same as the
total mass of matter before the
fire. This follows the Law of
Conservation of Mass.
ELABORAT
ELABORAT
EE Balancing Life
In life, you also need balance.
Balancing your studies, personal
time, sleep, and other priorities
can be difficult to some.
Cramming is sometimes your
best ally but this often produces
not so good results.
ELABORAT
ELABORAT
EE Balancing Life
You can balance all this by
proper time management.
According to Buddha, “the
trouble is you think you have
time”. In reality, time is limited
so have to manage it properly to
do your priorities at the right
time.
ELABORAT
ELABORAT
EE Balancing Life
Here are tips on how you can
manage your time effectively:
1. Make a schedule.
2. Rid yourself of distractions.
3. Complete important tasks
first.
4. Use checklist.
5. Reward yourself.
ELABORAT
ELABORAT
EE Balancing Life
Surely, it really is hard to break a
habit but by following these tips
will be fruitful especially once
you already land on a career of
your choice.
EVALUAT
E
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct
answer.
In the equation SO2 + H2O → H2SO4, H2O is a
1 1 A. reactant
B. product
C. catalyst
D. cannot be identified
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct
answer.
In the equation Fe + Cl2 → FeCl3, FeCl3 is
2 1 A. reactant
B. product
C. catalyst
D. cannot be identified
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct
answer.
Balancing an equation involves adjusting _________
3 1 A. both the subscripts and coefficients
B. the subscripts
C. the coefficients
D. the masses of the reactants and products
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct
answer.
Which of the following is not correctly balanced?
4 1 A. Al + 3 HCl → AlCl3 + H2
B. HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O
C. 4Fe + 3 O2 → 2 Fe2O3
D. N2 + 3 H2 → 2 NH3
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct
answer.
The correct coefficients for the equation
5 1 _KClO3 → _KCl + _O2 are ________.
A. 3, 2, 2
B. 2, 3, 2
C. 2, 1, 3
D. 2, 2, 3
 Balance the given chemical equation.

6 1 __Fe + __Cl2 __FeCl3

 Balance the given chemical equation.

7 1 __H2 + __Cl2 __HCl

 Balance the given chemical equation.

8 1 __CH4 + __O2 __CO2 + __H2O

 Balance the given chemical equation.

9 1 __Ag + __H2S __Ag2S + __H2

 Balance the given chemical equation.

10 1 __NaHCO3 __Na2CO3 + __CO2 + __H2O