Activity 8.1: Balancing Chemical Equations

http://newtraditions.chem.wisc.edu/FPTS/fbeqns/chemeqnf.htm

 

 

  1. Review the “Sample Problem” given at the website above.

 

  1. You are going to write balanced equations for the reactions in the “Reactions in Our Environment”  and the “Combustion Reactions” sections at the website above.

 

  1. Use candies to represent each kind of atom.  Record your color scheme below:

 

            Atom Type      Color of Candy                       Atom Type      Color of Candy

            Carbon             ____________                        Chlorine           ____________           

            Fluorine            ____________                        Hydrogen         ____________           

            Nitrogen           ____________                        Oxygen            ____________           

 

  1. Make the required molecules for the products and reactants for each reaction from your candies.

 

  1. Build more molecules from your candies as necessary until you have the same number of each atom (colored candies) on each side of the equation.

 

  1. Write the balanced equation and do a final atom inventory  to make sure your equation is correct. Record your answers as shown below for the sample problem.

 

N2 + 3 H2 à 2 NH3

 

                                                Reactants:                   Products:

                                                N = 2   (1 X 2)             N = 2  (2 X 1)

                                                H = 6   (3 X 2)             H = 6  (2 X 3)

 

 

Reaction #1

 

 

 

 

 

Reaction #2

 

 

 

 

 

Reaction #3

 

 

 

 

Reaction #4

 

 

 

 

 

Reaction #5

 

 

 

 

 

Reaction #6

 

 

 

 

 

Reaction #7

 

 

 

 

 

Reaction #8

 

 

 

 

 

Reaction #9