How do I do these?
1. Balance the equation for the reaction between zinc and hydrochloric acid.
Zn + HCl ZnCl2 + H2
2. Balance the equation for the reaction between iron (steel wool) and oxygen (water).
Fe + O2 Fe2O3
3. Balance the equation for the reaction of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of catalase.
H2O2 H2O + O2
4. Balance the equations below for the reaction of acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate
NaHCO3 + HC2H3O2 NaC2H3O2 + H2CO3
H2CO3 H2O + CO2
NaHCO3 + HC2H3O2 NaC2H3O2 + H2O + CO2
http://www.dummies.com/education/science/chemistry/how-to-balance-chemical-reactions-in-equations/
To balance chemical equations, you need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. Here's how you can balance each of the given chemical equations:
1. Balance the equation for the reaction between zinc and hydrochloric acid:
Zn + 2HCl -> ZnCl2 + H2
In this equation, we have one zinc atom on the left side and one on the right side. Likewise, we have two hydrogen atoms on both sides. However, we have two chlorine atoms on the right side, so we need to balance that by placing a coefficient of 2 in front of HCl. This gives us:
Zn + 2HCl -> ZnCl2 + H2
Now, the equation is balanced.
2. Balance the equation for the reaction between iron (steel wool) and oxygen (water):
4Fe + 3O2 -> 2Fe2O3
In this equation, we have four iron atoms on the left side and two iron atoms on the right side. To balance this, we place a coefficient of 2 in front of Fe on the right side. This gives us:
4Fe + 3O2 -> 2Fe2O3
Now the equation is balanced.
3. Balance the equation for the reaction of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of catalase:
2H2O2 -> 2H2O + O2
In this equation, we have two hydrogen atoms on both sides, and also two oxygen atoms on both sides. The equation is already balanced.
4. Balance the equations for the reaction of acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate:
NaHCO3 + HC2H3O2 -> NaC2H3O2 + H2CO3
In this equation, we have one hydrogen atom on the left side and two on the right side. To balance this, we place a coefficient of 2 in front of HC2H3O2. This gives us:
NaHCO3 + 2HC2H3O2 -> NaC2H3O2 + H2CO3
Now, we have four carbon atoms on the right side and one on the left side. To balance this, we place a coefficient of 4 in front of NaHCO3. This gives us:
4NaHCO3 + 2HC2H3O2 -> 2NaC2H3O2 + H2CO3
Finally, on the right side, we have two oxygen atoms in NaC2H3O2 and one oxygen atom in H2CO3. To balance this, we split H2CO3 into H2O + CO2:
4NaHCO3 + 2HC2H3O2 -> 2NaC2H3O2 + H2O + CO2
Now, the equation is balanced.