To balance a chemical equation, you need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. Here's an example of how to balance the equation for the reaction between hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2) to produce water (H2O):
Step 1: Write the unbalanced equation:
H2 + O2 → H2O
Step 2: Count the no of atoms of each element on each side of the eqn:
On the left side: 2 hydrogen atoms, 2 oxygen atoms
On the right side: 2 hydrogen atoms, 1 oxygen atom
Step 3: Balance the equation by adding coefficients to each element until the number of atoms is the same on both sides:
H2 + O2 → 2H2O
Now, on the left side, there are 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms, and on the right side, there are also 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms. The equation is now balanced.
It's important to note that you cannot change subscripts in a chemical formula to balance an equation, as this changes the identity of the compound. You can only add coefficients in front of the formulas.
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