Chapter 4, Problem 1E

What does it mean to say an equation is balanced? Why is it important for an equation to be balanced?

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The meaning of balanced equation and the importance for an equation to be balanced.

Concept introduction:

The symbolic representation of a chemical reaction in the form of formulae and symbols in which reactants are written on left hand side and the products are written on right hand side is known as chemical equation.

Answer to Problem 1E

A chemical equation in which the number of atoms of each element and the total charge of ions are same on both the sides of the reactant and the product is considered as a balanced equation.

A chemical equation should be balanced to maintain the law of conservation of mass. This is possible when the number of atoms of each element is same on both the sides.

Explanation of Solution

The chemical equation is said to be balanced when it contains equal number of atoms of different elements on the reactant side and the product side.

For example:

${\text{H}}_2+{\text{Cl}}_{\text{2}}\to 2\text{HCl}$

In above chemical equation, number of hydrogen atoms on reactant side and product side is 2 whereas the number of chlorine atoms on both sides is also equal to 2.

Thus, according to the definition of balanced chemical equation, above chemical equation is balanced.

Balancing a chemical equation is extremely important to follow the law of conservation of mass. A balanced equation helps us to identify the number of moles of reactants needed to form specific moles of products.