This is impossible to balance this Chem equation!

sittingbull
Sat, 04 Mar 2006 20:58:10 +0000

Let me show you what to do when in doubt.

Label each formula as a,b,c,d across.

So nh3 would be a, o2 as b, n2 as c, h2o as d

Now take each element
n
h
o

determine the ratios of each element.

n: 1a=2c
H: 3a=2d
o: 2b=1d

Now set a=1 and solve for each other variable

Once you get the answers, if you have any fractions, just multiply by the least common multiple.

So you get
1
3/4
1/2
3/2 for a,b,c,d respectively

multiply by 4 to get 4,3,2,6

If you had like the h2o and o2 on the same side, and like co2 on the other, it would be like 1a+2b=2c or whatever.

Get it?

I know most can be done just by looking, but I find this helpful when it gets into big organic equations and when it gets really long.