Saturday, October 30, 2010

Reactions: Basics

Law of Conservation of Mass- Matter can neither be created nor destroyed, only rearranged in
a chemical reaction.
 Steps in balancing a chemical reaction:
1. predict the products in words
2. write the formula for all the reactants and products
(balance the charges and look for diatomic elements)
diatomic elements - H2 , O2 , N2 , F2 , Cl2 , Br2 , I2
3. balance the polyatomic ions (nitrate. sulfate, hydroxide ...)
4. balance all other elements except hydrogen and oxygen
5. balance the hydrogen and oxygen  (don't forget to look for H and O in all compounds)
6. check every reaction again element by element 

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