When you're balancing an equation, how do you know whether or not to add a plus sign or what to do? For example, when you balance say
5O(2)+C(3)H(8) (Parantheses mean subscript)
you get 3CO(2)+4H20
My question is how did it end up to being PLUS 4H20?
Any explanation will be greatly appreciated.
Chemistry is so confusing, if anyone has simpler steps or shortcuts to arriving to an answer, please let me know. Thank you.
2007-01-30 12:31:51 · 6 answers · asked by Lahmsdagr8est! 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
In chemistry, it is always plus, as far as i know... when i took chem i never saw a minus that i remember..... you have to add two of each to get the same on both sides, so you add them together, and they bond differnetly creating two different reactions.......
2007-01-30 12:43:30 · answer #1 · answered by anna 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason being is that to get the to balance you need the 4. The 4 works like this. 4x2=8 (H) and 4x1=4 and when you add 3 CO (2) you get a total of of 8 (H) which balances out the equation because you have 8 Hydrogen on the other side. The best way that I have to solve of an equation is to right each element down like this for an example (I am starting with beginning equation) 2-o-3. If you take each element at a time it makes the equation easier to balance.
I hope this made some since to you. If not email me littlemomma0906@yahoo.com, and I will try to explain it a little better.
2007-01-30 16:55:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One, this is a combustion reaction, becuase the only thing that is produced when a gas like this burns is CO2 and H2O. The steps that I use are:
Identify each element involved in the reaction.
Change coefficients only, not the formulas (Subscripts).
Start with the element appearing once on each side.
Next focus on the more complicated compounds.
Count each element to see whether or not you've balanced them correctly. This has a image of how I balanced your equation:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e329/smart_alec_1992/combreac.jpg
2007-01-30 14:37:33 · answer #3 · answered by Ryan C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is clearer if you write:
C3H8 + 5O2 ===> 3CO2 + 4H2O
Count 3 C's on the left and on the right,.
Count 8 H's on the left and on the right.
Count 10O's on the left and on the right.
This is an oxidation-reduction equation. Your teacher will tell you how to calculate oxidation numbers and how to use oxidation numbers to tell electrons lost, electyrons gained, how they should always be equal, and how to balance hard equations.
Other than that, chemistry isto enjoy!
2007-01-30 12:45:59 · answer #4 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
H2 + Br2 = HBr & HBr you're able to make valuable that there is the comparable volume of aspects on the two area of the equation. so for this equation it makes 2 molecules of HBr using fact ther are 2 of each element on the different area of the equation.
2016-12-13 04:54:22 · answer #5 · answered by killeen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The plus sign doesn't really mean that you're making any mathematical equation, what it means is that when you burn one mole of C(3)H(8) with five moles of oxygen, you get 3 moles of CO(2) AND 4 moles of water.
So the plus sign means.. sort of.. "AND"
You'll never write "-" or "x" 'cause you're not really doing any math..
Hope I made myself clear =P
2007-01-30 12:44:54 · answer #6 · answered by IQ DOSON 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋