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November 01, 2025, 12:26:26 pm
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Author Topic: Balancing Equations  (Read 1273 times)  Share 

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wildareal

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Balancing Equations
« on: March 25, 2011, 08:58:58 pm »
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How would you balance equations like this in a systematic way?

C2H2Cl4+Ca(OH)2--->C2HCl3+CaCl2+H2O
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Wildareal '11

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pi

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Re: Balancing Equations
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2011, 09:07:59 pm »
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Is that right?

I always start by putting a coefficient to the largest molecule, and work from there. Get rid of all odd numbers as early as possible
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Greatness

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Re: Balancing Equations
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2011, 10:13:31 pm »
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Looks good pi! I like your method as well :)

Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience
« Last Edit: January 02, 2017, 11:59:26 pm by pi »
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Mao

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Re: Balancing Equations
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2011, 03:23:24 am »
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The MOST systematic way would be to set up a bunch of simultaneous equations and solving.

w* C2H2Cl4 + v* Ca(OH)2---> x* C2HCl3+ y* CaCl2+ z* H2O

C: 2w = 2x
H: 2w+2v=x+2z
Cl: 4w = 3x + 2y
Ca: v = y
O: 2v = z

With this system, you will always get an infinite number of solutions (that is, if the system has a non-trivial solution). Parameterize and pick a value for the parameter(s).

[anyways, I forget this is not a maths board... listen to what other people said, etc.]
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