2006-12-12 14:07:30 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Break the compounds into constituting elements and radicals. Look up the nature and magnitude of charges of the elements and radicals. The equate them.
For example : Sodium carbonate Na2CO3 = Na (1 positive charge) + CO3 (2 negative charges); So it would take 2 sodium +ve charges to balance 2 -ve charges of CO3.
But in case of Sodium bi carbonate the constituting element is sodium Na and radical is bicarbonate HCO3. Radical bicarbonate has a single -ve charge. so it will take only one sodium to balance bicarbonate's charge. Hence the compound will have a formula NaHCO3.
2006-12-12 17:34:03 · answer #1 · answered by saudipta c 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Break apart the compound into each individual elements. For the left side of the equation, write down how many elements it has. Do the same for the right side and add numbers until they balance out. Ex: H20 has 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atoms.
2006-12-12 14:16:00 · answer #2 · answered by nike_ginna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋