Essential Chemistry: Sample Chapter 7
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A structured method - part 1


If you are unable to balance an equation by inspection, use a structured method instead. Let's balance the reaction between blood sugar (glucose, C6H12O6) and oxygen in a structured way. This reaction, called cellular respiration, provides the internal energy for all living animals, including you, and produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).  Read the text aloud
Unbalanced chemical equation: all atoms are unbalanced
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There are 3 different elements to balance in the equation: C, O and H. All 4 substances involved in the reaction are made up of different combinations of these 3 elements. Read the text aloud
An effective method to balancing chemical equations is to begin with the elements that you see in the fewest compounds and end with the element that you see in the most substances. Read the text aloud
The respiration reaction shows both hydrogen and carbon are involved in only one reactant and one product. You could start with either carbon or hydrogen, so let's choose hydrogen. A coefficient of 6 in front of the H2O product will balance the number of hydrogen atoms. Note that adding this coefficient also changes the total amount of oxygen on the product side from 3 to 8 moles. Read the text aloud
Unbalanced chemical equation: oxygen and hydrogen are balanced but carbon is not
Let's move on to carbon next. You can balance carbon by placing a coefficient of 6 in front of the CO2 product. Inserting this coefficient changes the amount of oxygen on the product side from 8 moles to 18 moles. Read the text aloud
Balanced chemical equation: all atoms are balanced

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