STARTER

Match the formula on the front of your booklet with its correct name You have 3 min!

H NO3 H2 SO4 Ca (OH)2 Ag Br Ag2 O Cu O Ag NO3 Na2 SO4

Zn Cl2 Cu Cl2 Ca CO3 Na OH Ca SO4 Mg O H Cl Na Cl

Balancing Equations
Everyone should: Be able to balance simple equations that use up to 3 valence electrons
Most people will: Balance equations using compounds like OHNO3 SO4 2-

Some people will: Be able to balance equations with unusual compounds not covered in class

PENS AWAY!!!
NO WRITING NO NOTE-TAKING No doodling! (what??) Just listening and participating for the next 15 min)

IMPORTANT
ATOMS CANNOT BE CREATED OR DESTROYED!

Hydrogen + chlorine hydrogen chloride H2 + Cl2 HCl

Remember: Hydrogen and Chlorine are diatomic

+
REACTANTS 2 H atoms 2 Cl atoms

PRODUCTS
This is impossible as it implies that atoms have been destroyed.

1 H atom 1 Cl atom

What do we do?
We need to make the number of atoms equal on both sides of the equation, in order to get the equation to BALANCE.

What do we do?
We need to make the number of atoms equal on both sides of the equation, in order to get the equation to BALANCE.

Equation is now balanced, as there are the same number hydrogen atoms (2) and the same number of chlorine atoms (2) on the products and reactant side.

Firstly you need an equation with the correct formulae in. Youll probably be given this in the question Just like this one

Mg + O2 MgO
Then all you do is list the atoms that are involved on each side of the arrow

Mg + O2 MgO
Mg
O

Then start balancing:

[1] Just count up the atoms on each side

Mg + O2
1 2 Mg O 1 1

MgO

[2] The numbers arent balanced so then add BIG numbers to make up for any shortages

Mg + O2 2
1
2 And adjust totals Mg O 1

MgO
1 2
2

But the numbers still arent equal, so add another BIG number

2 Mg + O2 2 MgO
2 1 2 And adjust totals again NOW BOTH SIDES HAVE EQUAL NUMBERS OF ATOMS Mg O 2 2

WE SAY THAT THE EQUATION IS BALANCED!!

GROUP ACTIVITY: Try to balance these equations using the same method You have 5 min! Why didnt anyone tell me it was so easy to balance equations???!!!

[1]

Na + Cl2

NaCl
CO
2

[2] CH4 + O2

+ H2O

[3] Li + HNO3 [4] Al + O2

LiNO
2 3

+ H2

Al O

How did you get on?? Here are the answers:

[1]

2 Na + Cl2

2 NaCl
CO
2

[2] CH4 + 2 O2

+ 2 H2O

[3] 2 Li + 2 HNO3 [4] 4 Al + 3 O2

2
2

LiNO3 + H2
3

2 Al O

But how do I show this in an Note to self: exam?

I must NEVER EVER change the formula!

So I have twice as many atoms on reactants side than the products side.

Yep but this one isnt:

2 H on left 2 Cl on left --1 H on right 1 Cl on right

To balance this I need to double the number of atoms on the products side

Examples

Its best to balance using whole numbers

2 3 2

2 2 2 2

4
2

Your tasks:
Try the Balancing Equations questions in your booklet Following with the more challenging extension questions on the back of your booklet Finish up with a game of Learn the Formula!

Ticket to exit..
Balance the equation on your Post-It correctly Stick it on the board under the Learning outcome you feel you achieved today

Today, I feel I have achieved

Everyone should: Be able to balance simple equations that use up to 3 valence electrons Most people will: Balance equations using compounds like OH NO3 SO4 2Some people will: Be able to balance equations with unusual compounds not covered in class

Lets act it out!

1 volunteer to be a calcium write the symbol on your sticker 2 volunteers to be chlorine write the symbol on your sticker

Can you arrange yourselves to make a compound? What is your formula? What kind of bonds are these? Now we need to show the equation for this reaction! Whats missing? Another 3 volunteers please! Write on your stickers How does chlorine exist naturally? How will you show this?