answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

This is called balancing an equation. First you determine what the products are from the reactants. Assuming ionic bonding, i.e. plus balances out minus charge.

So you start out with the reaction:

H2SO4 + NaOH = ?

Ions present H+, SO42-, Na+, OH-. Mix and match them gives you Na2SO4 and HOH (H2O)

So you now have H2SO4 + NaOH => Na2SO4 + H2O

Then comes the balancing atoms on either side of the equation. This can only be done by putting numbers in front of molecules (cannot change overall charge of molecule by changing amount of atoms in a molecule)

Look for what there aren't enough. In this case it is Na firstly. Make it 2NaOH, then you have an extra OH, so make it 2H2O, and hey presto, balanced eq is the following:

H2SO4 + 2NaOH => Na2SO4 + 2H2O

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

As some physics law (I forget which one) states that matter cannot be either created or destroyed, it only makes sense that there must be the same number of atoms of an element on both sides of the equation. If these numbers were in any way unequal, it would be suggesting that matter had either been created or destroyed in the process of the reaction.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

In a chemical reaction, atoms are neither destroyed or created. So they should remain same in the reactants and products. Nuclear reactions are not considered here as they are not solely chemical reactions.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

Your question is not very well formulated. But by all means, an element would only have one atom. Compounds would have two or more atoms bonds. Such as water (H2O) having two hydrogren atoms bonding to an oxygen atom at the molecular level.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

This type of equation is called a balanced equation.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

balanced

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

say cheese

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What is the equal number of atoms on both sides of a equation?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Earth Science

When a chemical equation contains the same number of atoms on both sides is the equation balanced?

From each side the number of atoms of each element must be the same.


How can I tell if a chemical reaction is balanced or not balanced?

If the equation has the same number of each type of atom on both sides of the arrow, it is balanced. If the number of atoms on each side of the arrow is not the same, the equation is not balanced. For example, in the equation H2 + O2 -->H2O, there are two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms on the left, and two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom on the right. Therefore, the equation is not balanced. However, in the equation 2H2 + O2 -->2H2O, there are four hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms on the left and four hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms on the right, so the equation is balanced.


Why is the following equation invalid Al 2O2 --- Al2O3?

Because the numbers of aluminum and oxygen atoms are not the same on both sides of the equation, so the equation is not balanced. In order to be balanced, the numbers of atoms of each element must be the same on both sides of the equation. The correct equation is 4Al + 3O2 --> 2Al2O3. This gives 4 aluminum atoms and 6 oxygen atoms on both sides of the equation, so it is balanced.


How many aluminum atoms would there be on each side of the balanced equation?

Which of the billions of possible equations that contain aluminum are you asking about?


A chemical equation must be balanced to satisfy the law of what?

A balanced chemical reaction obeys the law of conservation of mass, because the same number of atoms of each element must appear on both sides of the equation for the reaction, and in any actual reaction, the same exact atoms will be found on both sides of the equation.

Related questions

What are both sides of an equation equal to?

In Chemistry, this is the known as the Law of Conservation of Matter. While the moles of individual substances may change, the number of atoms of reactants is the same as the number of atoms of products.


What is the balanced chemical equation for CaCO3 to CaO plus CO2?

The equation is already balanced:CaCO3(s) --> CaO(s) + CO2(g)ExplanationA balanced chemical equation is one where the number of atoms on both sides are equal. Chemical equations must be balanced because there is only a rearrangement of atoms in a reaction so the number of atoms you start off with must be the same as the number of atoms you end up with.If we take a look at the equation, we can see that there is 1 calcium atom, 1 carbon atom and 3 oxygen atoms present on both sides. As the number of these atoms on both sides are equal, the equation is balanced.


What is a balance between products sides and reactants sides of the equation?

A balanced chemical equation is one in which the number of atoms on the product side is equal to the number of atoms on the reactant side. This ensures the law of conservation of mass is upheld, meaning that no atoms are created or destroyed during a chemical reaction.


What equates in a chemical equation?

Two (or more) substances react and new substances are formed.


When a chemical equation contains the same number of atoms on both sides is the equation balanced?

From each side the number of atoms of each element must be the same.


What do you mean by balanced chemical equation?

A balanced chemical equation is one where the number of the same atoms on both sides are equal. A balanced chemial equation is important because during a chemical reaction, there is rearrangement of atoms only and no new atoms are added. To understand the concept of a balanced chemical equation, first consider an unbalanced chemical equation between magnesium and oxygen to form magnesium oxide. Unbalanced chemical equation: Mg(s) + O2(g) --> MgO(s) Initially, this equation is unbalanced because if we count the number of the oxygen atoms on both sides, the number are unequal. There are two oxygen atoms on the left side but only one on the right side. A balanced chemical equation is one where the number of all of the same atoms on both side are equal. We can balance chemical equations by adding numbers to the coefficient of the chemicals that are involved in the reaction. Balanced chemical equation: 2Mg(s) + O2(g) --> 2MgO(s) This equation is now balanced because if we count the number of the same atoms on both side, they are equal. There are two magnesium atoms and two oxygen atoms on both sides of the equation.


What do you mean by chemical equation?

A balanced chemical equation is one where the number of the same atoms on both sides are equal. A balanced chemial equation is important because during a chemical reaction, there is rearrangement of atoms only and no new atoms are added. To understand the concept of a balanced chemical equation, first consider an unbalanced chemical equation between magnesium and oxygen to form magnesium oxide. Unbalanced chemical equation: Mg(s) + O2(g) --> MgO(s) Initially, this equation is unbalanced because if we count the number of the oxygen atoms on both sides, the number are unequal. There are two oxygen atoms on the left side but only one on the right side. A balanced chemical equation is one where the number of all of the same atoms on both side are equal. We can balance chemical equations by adding numbers to the coefficient of the chemicals that are involved in the reaction. Balanced chemical equation: 2Mg(s) + O2(g) --> 2MgO(s) This equation is now balanced because if we count the number of the same atoms on both side, they are equal. There are two magnesium atoms and two oxygen atoms on both sides of the equation.


The definition of division property of equality?

I think its a property in which both sides of an equation are equal either by adding, subtracting, multiplication, or division.


How can one tell if a chemical reaction is balanced?

If it is balanced then the mass (amount) of elements on each side of the arrow will be equal.count the number of molecules of each element on each side of the equation. they need to all be equal.An example:H2 + O2 -> H2O2There are two H's on the left hand side and two on the right hand side, so the H's are balanced.The same is for the O's.==> The equation is balancedAnd remember that the arrow is a yield sign in an equation.


How does a balanced chemical equation shows that mass is conserved?

A balanced chemical equation has the same number of atoms of each element on both sides. The mass of the reactants is equal to the mass of products.


Explain what is meant by a chemical equation being balanced?

Placing coefficients in front of compounds or elements or poly-atomic ions to balance the number of atoms of different elements between the reactants side and the products side. Ex. CH4 + 2 O2 CO2 + 2 H2O


What determines if a chemical equation is balanced?

If the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation, then it is balanced.