1.1 (Filled-in Slideshow) Balancing Equations

Balancing Equations Unit 2: SCH3U/4C


Page 1: Introduction

  • Overview of balancing equations in chemistry related to the SCH3U/4C curriculum.


Page 2: Counting Atoms - More Practice

  • Task: Determine the number of atoms in various compounds.

  • Example: 2 + 7 + 5 + b + 5 + b + 5 (possibly referring to different compounds).

  • Expression shown implies counting total atom types based on the variable representations.


Page 3: What is a Chemical Reaction?

  • Definition: Processes in which substances (reactants) interact to form new substances (products).

    • Reactants: Substances before the reaction.

    • Products: Substances formed after the reaction.


Page 4: Representing Chemical Reactions (Grade 11 Only)

  • Learning Objective: Ability to represent chemical reactions in three ways:

    1. Word Equation

      • Example: Iron + Oxygen → Iron(III) oxide.


Page 5: Representing Chemical Reactions - Skeleton Equation (Grade 11 Only)

  • Skeleton Equation: Includes chemical formulas and physical state of elements/compounds.

    • Example: Fe(s) + O2(g) → Fe2O3(s)

    • States:

      • (s): solid

      • (l): liquid

      • (g): gas

      • (aq): aqueous.


Page 6: Representing Chemical Reactions - Balanced Equation (Grade 11 Only)

  • Balanced Equation: Shows the number of each type of molecule involved.

    • Example: 4 Fe(s) + 3 O2(g) → 2 Fe2O3(s)


Page 7: Law of Conservation of Mass

  • Concept: Mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.

    • Cannot lose or gain atoms during reactions.

    • Mass of reactants must equal mass of products.

    • Atoms can only be rearranged.


Page 8: Rules for Balancing Equations

  1. Place a line in front of each molecule to easily visualize.

    • Coefficients: Only numbers can be placed here, indicating the amount of each molecule.

    • Example: CO2 + H2O → H2CO3.


Page 9: Rules for Balancing Equations - Impact of Coefficients

  1. A coefficient multiplies the number of atoms in a molecule.

  • Example: 2 H2O → 4 H + 2 O (shows effect of coefficient in splitting molecules).


Page 10: Rules for Balancing Equations - Coefficient Effects

  1. A coefficient affects only the immediate molecule after it.

    • Example: 2 H2O + CO2 →

      • Here, 2 only applies to H2O, not CO2.


Page 11: Rules for Balancing Equations - Polyatomic Ions

  1. If a polyatomic ion appears on both sides of the reaction, treat it as a package.

  • Example: NH4NO3 → uses 1 nitrate ion instead of balancing each separate atom.


Page 12: Balancing Practice

  • Example: 2 Na(s) + Cl2(g) → 2 NaCl(s)

    • Balanced as Left Side (LS) = Right Side (RS)

    • Confirming equation balance of Reactants and Products.


Page 13: Practice 2

  • Example: 2 Ag + NO2 → 2 AgNO2.

    • Ensure the total count of each atom from reaction is maintained.


Page 14: Practice 3

  • Example: NH4(g) + 2 O2(g) → 2 H2O(l) + NO2(g)

    • Where total counts of Nitrogen, Hydrogen, and Oxygen atoms must match in balancing.