Are you having trouble balancing chemical equations? Whether you are a student, a teacher, or simply a science lover. Learning this is what chemistry is about. In chemistry, a chemical equation needs to be balanced. The process is done by understanding the mechanics of the reaction and how one form of matter is converted into another. It is a law of conservation of mass that necessitates having equal numbers of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation. This article will explore 50 Examples of Balanced Chemical Equations with answers, ranging from simple to complex ones. Additionally, you will discover some tips and tricks. If you want a PDF version of these 50 Examples of Balanced Chemical Equations.
Why Balancing Chemical Equations is Important
Balancing chemical equations is crucial for many reasons.
1. The Law of Conservation of Mass ensures that the atom count in each component matches on both sides of the equation.
2. Reaction Types. Balancing aids in forecasting the kind and quantity of products resulting from a reaction.
3. Quantitative Insights. It assists in deciding the portions of the reacting entities and makes it possible to develop experiments.
How to Balance a Chemical Equation Step-by-Step
Here's a step-by-step guide.
1. Identify the substances involved in the reaction and the resulting products. Begin by noting the chemical equation.
2. Count Element Atoms: Figure out how many atoms of each element are in the reactants and products.
3. Adjust Coefficients Change the coefficients (the numbers in front of compounds) to achieve balance.
4. Verify Balance: Make sure the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides.
5. Simplify if necessary. Ensure that the coefficients are presented in their simplest ratio.
Want to learn the steps first? See: How to Balance a Chemical Equation Easily.
50 examples of balanced chemical equations with answers
1. Hydrogen + Oxygen → Water
Unbalanced: H₂ + O₂ → H₂O
Balanced: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O
2. Nitrogen + Hydrogen → Ammonia
Unbalanced: N₂ + H₂ → NH₃
Balanced: N₂ + 3H₂ → 2NH₃
3. Sodium + Chlorine → Sodium Chloride
Unbalanced: Na + Cl₂ → NaCl
Balanced: 2Na + Cl₂ → 2NaCl
4. Carbon + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide
Unbalanced: C + O₂ → CO₂
Balanced: C + O₂ → CO₂
5. Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium Oxide
Unbalanced: Mg + O₂ → MgO
Balanced: 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO
6. Methane + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water
Unbalanced: CH₄ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O
Balanced: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O
7. Butane + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water
Unbalanced: C₄H₁₀ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O
Balanced: 2C₄H₁₀ + 13O₂ → 8CO₂ + 10H₂O
8. Ethanol + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water
Unbalanced: C₂H₅OH + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O
Balanced: C₂H₅OH + 3O₂ → 2CO₂ + 3H₂O
9. Ethene + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water
Unbalanced: C₂H₄ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O
Balanced: C₂H₄ + 3O₂ → 2CO₂ + 2H₂O
10. Calcium Carbonate + Hydrochloric Acid → Calcium Chloride + Carbon Dioxide + Water
Unbalanced: CaCO₃ + HCl → CaCl₂ + CO₂ + H₂O
Balanced: CaCO₃ + 2HCl → CaCl₂ + CO₂ + H₂O
11. Sodium Hydroxide + Hydrochloric Acid → Sodium Chloride + Water
Unbalanced: NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H₂O
Balanced: NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H₂O
12. Sodium + Water → Sodium Hydroxide + Hydrogen
Unbalanced: Na + H₂O → NaOH + H₂
Balanced: 2Na + 2H₂O → 2NaOH + H₂
13. Sulfuric Acid + Sodium Hydroxide → Sodium Sulfate + Water
Unbalanced: H₂SO₄ + NaOH → Na₂SO₄ + H₂O
Balanced: H₂SO₄ + 2NaOH → Na₂SO₄ + 2H₂O
14. Iron + Chlorine → Iron(III) Chloride
Unbalanced: Fe + Cl₂ → FeCl₃
Balanced: 2Fe + 3Cl₂ → 2FeCl₃
15. Zinc + Hydrochloric Acid → Zinc Chloride + Hydrogen
Unbalanced: Zn + HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂
Balanced: Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂
16. Calcium + Water → Calcium Hydroxide + Hydrogen
Unbalanced: Ca + H₂O → Ca(OH)₂ + H₂
Balanced: Ca + 2H₂O → Ca(OH)₂ + H₂
17. Phosphorus + Oxygen → Phosphorus Pentoxide
Unbalanced: P + O₂ → P₂O₅
Balanced: 4P + 5O₂ → 2P₂O₅
18. Aluminum + Oxygen → Aluminum Oxide
Unbalanced: Al + O₂ → Al₂O₃
Balanced: 4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃
19. Magnesium + Hydrochloric Acid → Magnesium Chloride + Hydrogen
Unbalanced: Mg + HCl → MgCl₂ + H₂
Balanced: Mg + 2HCl → MgCl₂ + H₂
20. Hydrogen Peroxide → Water + Oxygen
Unbalanced: H₂O₂ → H₂O + O₂
Balanced: 2H₂O₂ → 2H₂O + O₂
21. Sodium Bicarbonate + Hydrochloric Acid → Sodium Chloride + Carbon Dioxide + Water
Unbalanced: NaHCO₃ + HCl → NaCl + CO₂ + H₂O
Balanced: NaHCO₃ + HCl → NaCl + CO₂ + H₂O
22. Sodium Carbonate + Hydrochloric Acid → Sodium Chloride + Water + Carbon Dioxide
Unbalanced: Na₂CO₃ + HCl → NaCl + H₂O + CO₂
Balanced: Na₂CO₃ + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H₂O + CO₂
23. Copper + Sulfur → Copper(I) Sulfide
Unbalanced: Cu + S → Cu₂S
Balanced: 2Cu + S → Cu₂S
24. Nitric Acid + Sodium Hydroxide → Sodium Nitrate + Water
Unbalanced: HNO₃ + NaOH → NaNO₃ + H₂O
Balanced: HNO₃ + NaOH → NaNO₃ + H₂O
25. Potassium Chlorate → Potassium Chloride + Oxygen
Unbalanced: KClO₃ → KCl + O₂
Balanced: 2KClO₃ → 2KCl + 3O₂
26. Potassium Bromide + Chlorine → Potassium Chloride + Bromine
Unbalanced: KBr + Cl₂ → KCl + Br₂
Balanced: 2KBr + Cl₂ → 2KCl + Br₂
27. Iron(III) Oxide + Carbon → Iron + Carbon Dioxide
Unbalanced: Fe₂O₃ + C → Fe + CO₂
Balanced: Fe₂O₃ + 3C → 2Fe + 3CO₂
28. Potassium Nitrate → Potassium Nitrite + Oxygen
Unbalanced: KNO₃ → KNO₂ + O₂
Balanced: 2KNO₃ → 2KNO₂ + O₂
29. Lead(II) Nitrate + Potassium Iodide → Lead(II) Iodide + Potassium Nitrate
Unbalanced: Pb(NO₃)₂ + KI → PbI₂ + KNO₃
Balanced: Pb(NO₃)₂ + 2KI → PbI₂ + 2KNO₃
30. Calcium Oxide + Water → Calcium Hydroxide
Unbalanced: CaO + H₂O → Ca(OH)₂
Balanced: CaO + H₂O → Ca(OH)₂
31. Ammonia + Oxygen → Nitrogen Oxide + Water
Unbalanced: NH₃ + O₂ → NO + H₂O
Balanced: 4NH₃ + 3O₂ → 2N₂ + 6H₂O
32. Nitrogen Dioxide + Water → Nitric Acid + Nitrous Acid
Unbalanced: NO₂ + H₂O → HNO₃ + HNO₂
Balanced: 2NO₂ + H₂O → HNO₃ + HNO₂
33. Barium Nitrate + Sodium Sulfate → Barium Sulfate + Sodium Nitrate
Unbalanced: Ba(NO₃)₂ + Na₂SO₄ → BaSO₄ + NaNO₃
Balanced: Ba(NO₃)₂ + Na₂SO₄ → BaSO₄ + 2NaNO₃
34. Zinc Oxide + Carbon → Zinc + Carbon Dioxide
Unbalanced: ZnO + C → Zn + CO₂
Balanced: ZnO + C → Zn + CO₂
35. Aluminum Oxide + Carbon → Aluminum + Carbon Dioxide
Unbalanced: Al₂O₃ + C → Al + CO₂
Balanced: 2Al₂O₃ + 3C → 4Al + 3CO₂
36. Potassium Iodide + Lead(II) Nitrate → Lead(II) Iodide + Potassium Nitrate
Unbalanced: KI + Pb(NO₃)₂ → PbI₂ + KNO₃
Balanced: 2KI + Pb(NO₃)₂ → PbI₂ + 2KNO₃
37. Sodium + Sulfur → Sodium Sulfide
Unbalanced: Na + S → Na₂S
Balanced: 2Na + S → Na₂S
38. Calcium Carbonate → Calcium Oxide + Carbon Dioxide
Unbalanced: CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂
Balanced: CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂
39. Magnesium + Nitrogen → Magnesium Nitride
Unbalanced: Mg + N₂ → Mg₃N₂
Balanced: 3Mg + N₂ → Mg₃N₂
40. Sodium + Oxygen → Sodium Oxide
Unbalanced: Na + O₂ → Na₂O
Balanced: 4Na + O₂ → 2Na₂O
41. Hydrogen + Chlorine → Hydrogen Chloride
Unbalanced: H₂ + Cl₂ → HCl
Balanced: H₂ + Cl₂ → 2HCl
42. Sulfur Dioxide + Oxygen → Sulfur Trioxide
Unbalanced: SO₂ + O₂ → SO₃
Balanced: 2SO₂ + O₂ → 2SO₃
43. Copper + Oxygen → Copper(II) Oxide
Unbalanced: Cu + O₂ → CuO
Balanced: 2Cu + O₂ → 2CuO
44. Carbon Monoxide + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide
Unbalanced: CO + O₂ → CO₂
Balanced: 2CO + O₂ → 2CO₂
45. Sodium Hydroxide + Carbon Dioxide → Sodium Carbonate + Water
Unbalanced: NaOH + CO₂ → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O
Balanced: 2NaOH + CO₂ → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O
46. Nitrogen + Oxygen → Nitrogen Oxides
Unbalanced: N₂ + O₂ → NO
Balanced: N₂ + O₂ → 2NO
47. Lead + Oxygen → Lead(IV) Oxide
Unbalanced: Pb + O₂ → PbO₂
Balanced: 2Pb + O₂ → 2PbO₂
48. Ammonium Nitrate → Nitrous Oxide + Water
Unbalanced: NH₄NO₃ → N₂O + H₂O
Balanced: NH₄NO₃ → N₂O + 2H₂O
49. Acetic Acid + Sodium Bicarbonate → Sodium Acetate + Water + Carbon Dioxide
Unbalanced: CH₃COOH + NaHCO₃ → NaCH₃COO + H₂O + CO₂
Balanced: CH₃COOH + NaHCO₃ → NaCH₃COO + H₂O + CO₂
50. Ammonium Carbonate → Ammonia + Carbon Dioxide + Water
Unbalanced: (NH₄)₂CO₃ → NH₃ + CO₂ + H₂O
Balanced: (NH₄)₂CO₃ → 2NH₃ + CO₂ + H₂O
Balanced chemical equations are not just for textbooks; they’re used in the real world. Fuels used in combustion engines go through a procedure of chemical balancing so that maximum energy can be achieved and no accidents occur; however, a reaction may alter the situation with pressure, heat, or product.
Want to master combustion reactions? Learn how to balance a combustion reaction in our complete guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a balanced chemical equation?
A balanced chemical equation evidences that the number of atoms for each element is identical on both sides of the equation. This is by the Law of Conservation of Mass.
What are the most common types of balanced chemical equations?
The most common ones are combination reactions, decomposition reactions, single displacement reactions, double displacement reactions, and combustion reactions.
How do I know if a chemical equation is balanced correctly?
Why do we need to balance chemical equations before solving problems?
What happens if a chemical equation is not balanced?
It cannot represent the actual reaction because that violates the Law of Conservation of Mass.