Saturday, September 10, 2016

How do you balance the chemical equation: `~Ca(OH)_2 + ~(NH_4)_2SO_4 -gt ~CaSO_4 + ~NH_3 + ~H_2O` ?

`~Ca(OH)_2 + ~(NH_4)_2SO_4 -gt ~CaSO_4 + ~NH_3 + ~H_2O`


Step 1: Make a list of the number of each type of atom on the reactant and product sides of the equation.


`~Ca(OH)_2 + ~(NH_4)_2SO_4 -gt ~CaSO_4 + ~NH_3 + ~H_2O`


Reactants              Products


Ca: 1                      Ca: 1


O: 6                        O: 5


H: 10                      H: 5


N: 2                        N: 1


S: 1                        S: 1



Step 2: Pick an unbalanced atom to start with....

`~Ca(OH)_2 + ~(NH_4)_2SO_4 -gt ~CaSO_4 + ~NH_3 + ~H_2O`


Step 1: Make a list of the number of each type of atom on the reactant and product sides of the equation.


`~Ca(OH)_2 + ~(NH_4)_2SO_4 -gt ~CaSO_4 + ~NH_3 + ~H_2O`


Reactants              Products


Ca: 1                      Ca: 1


O: 6                        O: 5


H: 10                      H: 5


N: 2                        N: 1


S: 1                        S: 1



Step 2: Pick an unbalanced atom to start with. Add a coefficient to balance the unbalanced atom.


Let’s start with N. Ask yourself “What number can I multiply with the subscript of N on the product side of the equation that will give me the same number of N atoms as on the reactant side of the equation?” The answer would be 2.


So, place a coefficient of 2 in front of the compound on the product side of the equation that contains N. This changes the number of N atoms on the product side to 2 AND changes the number of H atoms to 8.


 `~Ca(OH)_2 + ~(NH_4)_2SO_4 -gt ~CaSO_4 + ~2NH_3 + ~H_2O`


Reactants              Products


Ca: 1                      Ca: 1


O: 6                        O: 5


H: 10                      H: 8


N: 2                        N: 2


S: 1                        S: 1



Step 3: Choose another unbalanced atom in the equation. Add a coefficient to balance the unbalanced atom.


Let’s balance H next. Notice that H is present in two compounds on the product side of the equation. Ask yourself “What number can I multiply with the subscript of H in one of the H-containing compounds on the product side that, when added to the other H-containing compound, will give me the same number of H atoms as on the reactant side of the equation?"


If we place a coefficient of 2 in front of the compound `~H_2O` , the total number of H atoms on the product side will equal the number of H atoms on the reactant side. Placing a coefficient of 2 in front of the compound `~H_2O` also changes the total number of O atoms on the product side to 6.


`~Ca(OH)_2 + ~(NH_4)_2SO_4 -gt ~CaSO_4 + ~2NH_3 + ~2H_2O`


Reactants              Products


Ca: 1                      Ca: 1


O: 6                        O: 6


H: 10                      H: 10


N: 2                        N: 2


S: 1                        S: 1


The reaction is now balanced.

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