Chemical Equation Balancer

Balancing Chemical Equations Calculator

This balancing chemical equations calculator helps to balance any chemical equation by determining the appropriate coefficients. Our chemical equation calculator provides with a complete periodic table and makes it simple to identify and enter various elements. 

What is a Chemical Equation?

A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a chemical reaction. It ensures an equal number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation. This uses the formulas and symbols to show the reactants and the products as well as quantities of each substance in moles. 

For Example:

When magnesium and oxygen react together it forms Magnesium Oxide. However, the given below equation is not balanced since the atoms for each element are unequal on each side. 

Unbalanced Equation = Mg + O₂ → MgO

So by balancing the atoms on both sides, the chemical equation will be balanced. It obeys the Law of Conservation of Mass. This balancing equations calculator automates this process by helping you determine the correct coefficients for each substance involved in the reaction. 

Balanced Equation = 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO

Apart from all these complicated steps and factors involved, you can also let this chemical equation balancer to balance the reaction in a couple of seconds.

Why is it Important to Balance a Chemical Equation?

A chemical equation is balanced to ensure that the number of atoms in the reactants equals the number of atoms in the product. During the chemical reaction, atoms reshape themselves and cannot be created or destroyed. Therefore, the balancing of the chemical equation is controlled by the law of conservation of mass. This law states that "the mass can not be created or destroyed". So, to reflect this law it must balance the chemical equation. You can also take help from the law of conservation of mass calculator to verify that the total mass of reactants in a chemical reaction is equal to the total mass of the products. 

How to Balance Chemical Equations?

There are several methods to balance a chemical equation. Each method is considered suitable for different levels of complexity so follow these. 

➥ Traditional Balancing Method:

The traditional balancing method is the trial and error approach that involves the addition of coefficients to the reactant and products until the equation balances. 

Steps:

• Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation
• Adjust the coefficients to equalize the number of atoms of each element on both sides
• Continue adjusting coefficients until all elements are balanced

Example:

Balance the given equation

H₂ + O₂ → H₂O

We can see that there are 2 hydrogen atoms on both sides, but there are 2 oxygen atoms on the left and only 1 on the right.

To balance oxygen, we can put a coefficient of 2 in front of H₂O 

H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O

Now, hydrogen is unbalanced. To balance hydrogen, we put a coefficient of 2 in front of H₂: 

2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O

➥ Algebraic Balancing Method: 

The algebraic chemical equation balancing method uses the algebra as stoichiometric coefficients for each species in the unbalanced chemical equation. 

Steps:

• Write variables like a, b, c, etc. in place of coefficients for each compound
• Based on the number of atoms of each element, write equations on both side
• Solve the system of equations to find the values of the variables
• Substitute the values of the variables back into the equation to get the balanced equation

Example:

Balance the equation = aFe + bO₂ → cFe₂O₃

For  Fe = a = 2c

For O = 2b = 3c

Solving these equations, we find a = 4, b = 3, and c = 2

The balanced equation is = 4Fe + 3O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃

➥ Balancing with Oxidation Number Method: 

This method is utilized in the redox reaction, where the variation in the oxidation number identifies the transfer of electrons to balance the chemical equation. 

Steps:

• Identify the oxidation state of each atom in the equation
• Determines the elements that change oxidation number
• Find the total decrease and increase in the oxidation number
• By adjusting the coefficients to equalize the total increase and decrease
• Balance the rest of the atoms (except oxygen and hydrogen) by inspection
• Balance oxygen by adding H₂O molecules
• Balance hydrogen by adding H⁺ ions

If the reaction occurs in a basic solution, convert H⁺ to OH⁻ by adding equal amounts of OH⁻ to both sides.

Example:

Balance the redox reaction: Fe²⁺ + MnO₄⁻ → Fe³⁺ + Mn²⁺ (in acidic solution)

From the equation identify the oxidation numbers like: Fe²⁺ (+2), MnO₄⁻ (Mn=+7, O=-2), Fe³⁺ (+3), Mn²⁺ (+2)

Determine the redox from the equation like: Fe is oxidized (+1 change), Mn is reduced (-5 change)

Balance Fe and Mn = 5Fe²⁺ + MnO₄⁻ → 5Fe³⁺ + Mn²⁺

Balance O = 5Fe²⁺ + MnO₄⁻ → 5Fe³⁺ + Mn²⁺ + 4H₂O

Balance H = 5Fe²⁺ + MnO₄⁻ + 8H⁺ → 5Fe³⁺ + Mn²⁺ + 4H₂O

Balance charge = Add 5e⁻ to the right side: 5Fe²⁺ + MnO₄⁻ + 8H⁺ + 5e⁻ → 5Fe³⁺ + Mn²⁺ + 4H₂O

➥ Balancing with Ion-Electron Half-Reaction Method: 

This balancing equation method involves two half-reactions, one is oxidation and other involves the reduction. Both half-reactions are balanced with respect to mass and charge, and then two equations are reassembled with the coefficients to allow for electron cancellation.

Steps:

• Divide the equation into two half-reactions 
• Balance each of them separately for atoms other than oxygen and hydrogen 
• Balance oxygen by adding H₂O molecules
• Balance hydrogen by adding H⁺ ions
• Balance charge by adding electrons (e⁻)
• Multiply the half-reactions by the factors to ensure an equal number of electrons involved
• Add the half-reactions together and cancel out common species

Example:

Balance the redox reaction of the given equation = Cu + HNO₃ → Cu²⁺ + NO

• Oxidation = Cu → Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻
• Reduction = HNO₃ → NO

Balance O in reduction: HNO₃ → NO + 2H₂O

Balance H in reduction: HNO₃ + 3H⁺ → NO + 2H₂O

Balance charge in reduction: HNO₃ + 3H⁺ + 3e⁻ → NO + 2H₂O

Multiply oxidation by 3 and reduction by 2 to equalize electrons:

• 3Cu → 3Cu²⁺ + 6e⁻
• 2HNO₃ + 6H⁺ + 6e⁻ → 2NO + 4H₂O

Add half-reactions and cancel electrons: 3Cu + 2HNO₃ + 6H⁺ → 3Cu²⁺ + 2NO + 4H₂O

➥ Why is it crucial that a chemical equation is always balanced?

Chemical equations are used to create different chemicals and compounds. Using these chemical equations with balanced atoms leads to chemical reactions that produce the desired product. That is why this balancing chemical equations calculator takes a couple of clicks in displaying the exact amount of each reactant and product to balance the final representing equation.