Chemical Equation Balancer

Introduction to Chemical Equation Balancer

Balancing a chemical equation is an important step while doing analytical calculations. It is also a time-consuming step. The chemical equation balancer is here to help save time. One can use this online tool by following some simple instructions. This article describes the process of balancing a chemical equation.

What is a Chemical Equation?

A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of how reactants are converted to products in a chemical reaction. The reactants and products are written in the form of symbols and formulae e.g., Co for cobalt.

$$ CaCO_{3(s)} \;→\; CaO_{(s)} \;+\; CO_{2(g)} $$

A balanced chemical equation tells the required number of moles of reactants to make the required number of moles of product.

Instructions to use Chemical Equation Balancing Calculator

1. Enter the unbalanced chemical equation and press the “calculate” button.
2. Always enter the symbol of the element. e.g., Fe for ferrous(iron).
3. You can also enter the name of the species. e.g., Hydrogen + Oxygen → Water.
4. Use the parenthesis bracket to enter the charge. e.g., {-}.
5. Only enter the reactants if you are not given a complete unbalanced equation. The chemical equation balancer will provide the estimated complete balanced chemical equation.

How to Balance Chemical Equation?

Firstly, the number of all atoms of each element on the reactant and the product sides are compared. Then the stoichiometric coefficients are assigned to the molecules to describe the number of molecules of reactants and products participating in the reaction. Here is the reaction of chemical balancer:

$$ Na_2 CO_3 \;+\; H_2 O \;→\; 2NaOH \;+\; CO_2 $$

The stoichiometric coefficient of sodium carbonate, water, and carbon dioxide is 1 while that of sodium hydroxide is 2. The stoichiometric coefficient is assigned to the reactants and products after comparing the number of atoms of an element present on the reactant and product side. After balancing the chemical equation, make sure that the total number of atoms of an element present on the reactant and product side must be equal.

Example for Balancing a Chemical Equation

Let us balance an equation for some practice. Balance the given equation for the decomposition of calcium nitrate.

Step 1: In case a complete unbalanced equation is not given then in the first step you make the complete unbalanced equation using the chemical formulae of the given reactants. The chemical formula of calcium nitrate is 2Ca(NO3)2. It decomposes to lime, nitrogen dioxide, and oxygen. So the unbalanced equation can be written as:

$$ 2Ca(NO_3 )_2 \;→\; CaO \;+\; NO_2 \;+\; O_2 $$

Step 2: Now compare the total number of atoms of each element on the reactant and product side.

1. The total number of Ca atoms on the product side is 1 while that on the reactant side is 2.
2. The total number of N atoms on the reactant side is 4 while that on the product side is 1.
3. The number of oxygen atoms on the reactant side is 12 and the number of oxygen atoms on the product side is 5 in the unbalanced equation.

Step 3: Now balance the total number of atoms of each element on the reactant and product side. The balancing is done by assigning the stoichiometric coefficients to the reactants and products. The stoichiometric coefficients are assigned by equalizing the total number of each atom on the reactant and product side. For example, there are 2 calcium atoms on the reactant side so there should be 2 calcium atoms present on the product side. So, the stoichiometric coefficient for CaO will be 2.

Step 4: After assigning all the stoichiometric coefficients, compare the number of each atom on the reactant and product side to check if all the number of atoms are equal on both sides by using a chemical balancer.

$$ 2Ca(NO_3 )_2 \;→\; 2CaO \;+\; 4NO_2 \;+\; O_2 $$

1. There are 2 Ca atoms on both sides.
2. The number of N atoms is 4 on the reactant and the product side.
3. There are 12 oxygen atoms on the reactant and the product side.

Finally, the number of all atoms on the reactant and product side is equal. Congratulations, you have successfully balanced the chemical equation for the decomposition of calcium nitrate.

We estimate the yield of a chemical reaction by balancing its chemical equation. The physical methods of balancing a chemical equation are time-consuming and there is a risk of mistakes. Therefore, a chemical balancer is used for quick results. So forget about the hassle of the balancing process and use the chemical equation balancer.

References

What is a chemical equation?

Example for balancing the chemical equation.