How to balance chemical equations
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Atoms can neither be destroyed nor created during a simple chemical reaction. Therefore, in a chemical reaction
The sum of atoms before reaction = the sum of atoms after reaction
General Rules for balancing chemical equations – Rule 3
Balancing chemical equations may require some trial and error. There are some general rules that could be helpful, but they may not work all the time.
- Rule 1: Balancing chemical equations using the one’s and two’s technique
- Rule 2: Balancing chemical equations using the two’s and three’s technique
- Rule 3: Balancing chemical equations using the CHO technique
- Rule 4: Balancing chemical equations using the even technique
- Rule 5: Balancing chemical equations containing polyatomic ions
In this page, we will look at some examples of applying
Rule 3: Balancing chemical equations using the CHO technique.
If you are balancing equations that have carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms then balance the carbon atoms first, the hydrogen atoms second and the oxygen atoms last.
Example:
Balance the chemical equation
C5H12 + O2 → CO2 + H2O
Solution:
Step 1: Start with C. To balance the C put the coefficient of 5 for CO2
C5H12 + O2 → 5CO2 + H2O
Step 2: Then, balance the H by placing the coefficient of 6 for H2O
C5H12 + O2 → 5CO2 + 6H2O
Step 3: Lastly, balance the O by placing the coefficient of 8 for O2
C5H12 + 8O2 → 5CO2 + 6H2O
Step 4: Check that all the atoms balance and make sure that all coefficients are in the lowest-possible ratio.
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