Balancing Equations

Sinque · 24 Feb 2008 at 15:54

Unbalanced:

li + o₂ -> li₂o

Balanced:

2li + o₂ -> li₂o₂

And the end result would be a gas?

This crap really confuses me

Sinque · 24 Feb 2008 at 15:56

Fraggr said:
I think metal oxides are solids under standard conditions, so not a gas.

But is the balancing fine? :confused:

Sinque · 24 Feb 2008 at 16:01

Eh...

Is that at GCSE level though? We're only trying to balance the numbers out, giving me a headache

Sinque · 24 Feb 2008 at 16:07

Dave said:
You need to have the same number of atoms of each species on either side, but you can't physically alter the species themselves like you have with Lithium Oxide - the formula is fixed for it. You have to alter the coefficients in front of the different species until you have the same amount of constituent atoms on each side. (in your case, Li and O)

I see, so it's wrong?

Sinque · 24 Feb 2008 at 16:10

Ah, I understand now. I did it again and got that answer, going on to a harder one now. I'll report back, cheers

Sinque · 24 Feb 2008 at 16:14

Before:

na + h₂o -> naOH + h₂

After:

2na + 2h₂o -> 2naOH + h₂

On he left there is 2 NA and on the right there is 2 NA
On the left there is 4 H and 2 O and on the right there is 4 H and 2 O

How's that?

Sinque · 24 Feb 2008 at 16:19

markyp23 said:
You cannot change the chemical formula. You can only add numbers before each of the "terms" in the equation. You need to get the number of each "chemical" the same on both sides.

Yes I understand that now, can you check the previous one? Cheers

Edit: Hurray, cheers guys. Was expecting to get flamed with 'do your own homework!'

But I guess I did try

Sinque · 24 Feb 2008 at 16:29

Doesn't get much simpler than this, but i've got to learn somewhere