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Balancing Equations PDF
Balancing Equations PDF
Date
Class
MATH SKILLS
Reactants
Products
Balance
Al
Cu
Cl
This equation gives you two aluminum atoms on the right and only one on the left. So you
need to multiply the amount of aluminum by 2.
2Al + 3CuCl2 2AlCl3 + Cu
Atom
Reactants
Products
Balance
Al
Cu
Cl
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Products
Balance
Al
Cu
Cl
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Sample Problem
Write the equation that describes the formation of glucose and oxygen, by means of
photosynthesis, from carbon dioxide and water.
1. Identify the reactants and products. Carbon dioxide and water, the reactants, form
glucose and oxygen, the products.
2. Write a word equation for the reaction.
carbon dioxide + water glucose + oxygen
3. Write the equation using formulas for the reactants and products. Some gaseous
elements are molecules, not atoms. Oxygen in air is O2, not O.
CO 2 +H2O C 6H 12O 6 + O2
4. Balance the equation one element at a time. The same number of each type of atom
must appear on both sides. So far, there are six carbon atoms on the right and only one
on the left. To balance the number of carbon atoms, multiply the amount of carbon
dioxide by 6.
6CO 2 + H2O C6H 12O 6 + O2
Atom
Reactants
Products
Balance
12
13
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continued
This equation gives you twelve hydrogen atoms on the right and only two on the left. So
you need to multiply the amount of water by 6.
6CO 2 + 6H2O C6H 12O 6 + O2
Atom
Reactants
Products
Balance
12
12
18
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Products
Balance
12
12
18
18
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continued
17. Ammonium chloride, NH4Cl, reacts with calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, to form
calcium chloride (CaCl2), ammonia (NH3), and water. Write the balanced equation for
this reaction.
18. Zinc reacts with hydrochloric acid, HCl, to form zinc chloride, ZnCl2, and hydrogen
gas. Write the balanced equation for this reaction.
19. Fluorine reacts with sodium chloride, NaCl, to form sodium fluoride, NaF, and
chlorine. Write the balanced equation for this single-displacement reaction. (Hint:
Remember that both fluorine and chlorine have two atoms per molecule when they are
in elemental form.)
20. Calcium oxide, CaO, reacts with sulfur dioxide to form calcium sulfite, CaSO3. Write
the balanced equation for this synthesis reaction.
21. In air, calcium sulfite, CaSO3, reacts slowly with oxygen to form calcium sulfate,
CaSO4. Write the balanced equation for this reaction.
22. When heated, mercury(II) oxide, HgO, decomposes to form mercury and oxygen.
Through this reaction, Joseph Priestley demonstrated the existence of oxygen in 1774.
Write the balanced equation for the decomposition of mercury(II) oxide.
23. Methanol, CH3OH, decomposes to form carbon monoxide, CO, and hydrogen gas, H2.
Write the balanced equation for this decomposition reaction.
Mixed Review
24. Potassium nitrate, KNO3, decomposes to form potassium nitrite, KNO2, and oxygen
gas, O2. Write the balanced equation for this decomposition reaction.
25. Antimony(V) chloride, SbCl5, reacts with potassium iodide, KI, to form the products
potassium chloride, KCl, iodine, I2, and antimony(III) chloride, SbCl3. Write the
balanced equation for this reaction.
26. Nitric acid, HNO3, reacts with hydrogen sulfide, H2S, to form nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
water, and sulfur (S). Write the balanced equation for this reaction.
27. Chromium(III) oxide, Cr2O3, reacts with silicon to form chromium metal and silicon
dioxide, SiO2 . Write the balanced equation for this reaction.
28. Ammonium dichromate, (NH4)2Cr2O7, decomposes to form chromium(III) oxide,
Cr2O3, nitrogen gas, N2, and water. Write the balanced equation for this decomposition
reaction.
29. Iron(II) chloride, FeCl2, reacts with water at high temperatures to form triiron
tetraoxide (Fe3O4), hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen gas. Write the balanced equation
for this reaction.
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continued
30. Aluminum sulfate, Al2(SO4)3, reacts with calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, to form
aluminum hydroxide, Al(OH)3, and calcium sulfate, CaSO4. Write the balanced
equation for this double-displacement reaction.
31. Lead chloride, PbCl2 , reacts with sodium chromate, Na2CrO4, to form lead chromate,
PbCrO4, and sodium chloride, NaCl. Write the balanced equation for this doubledisplacement reaction.
32. Vanadium pentoxide, V2O5, reacts with calcium to form vanadium metal and calcium
oxide, CaO. Write the balanced equation for this reaction.
33. When heated, tantalum metal reacts with chlorine gas to form tantalum pentachloride,
TaCl5. Write the balanced equation for this reaction.
34. Potassium manganate(VI), K2MnO4, can be made to react with water, forming
potassium permanganate, KMnO4 , potassium hydroxide, KOH, and hydrogen gas.
This reaction is used in industry to produce potassium permanganate, which is widely
used in analytical chemistry. Write the balanced equation for this reaction.
35. Phosphorus pentoxide, P4O10, can be made to react with water (as steam) to form
phosphoric acid, H3PO4. This reaction is an important industrial source of phosphoric
acid. Write the balanced equation for this reaction.
36. Iron sulfide, FeS, reacts with hydrochloric acid, HCl, to form hydrogen sulfide, H2S,
and iron(II) chloride, FeCl2. Write the balanced equation for this reaction.
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