How to Balance Chemical Equations: The Case of BaCl2 + Na2CO3
Understanding Chemical Equation Balancing
Chemical equations are symbolic representations of chemical reactions. When writing chemical equations, it is essential to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both the reactant and product sides. This process is known as balancing chemical equations.
Unbalanced Equation: BaCl2 + Na2CO3 → BaCO3 + NaCl
The equation BaCl2(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) → BaCO3(s) + NaCl(aq) is unbalanced. To balance this equation, we need to determine the coefficient that should be placed in front of NaCl.
The Solution
Which coefficient should be placed in front of NaCl to balance this equation? 1 2 3 4
You would need to put a 2 in front of NaCl.BaCl2(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) → BaCO3 (s) + NaCl(aq)
The coefficient that should be placed in front of NaCl to balance the equation above is 2
The balanced equation is as below:
BaCl(aq) + Na2CO3 (aq) → BaCO3 (s) + 2NaCl (aq)
Explanation:
According to the law of mass conversation, the number of atoms of an element must be equal on both sides of the reaction.
By adding 2 in front of NaCl ensures that the number of each element is equal on both sides. For example, there are 2 atoms of Na in both the reactant and product side.