How do you balance chemical formulas?

Answer 1

Format Method - Writing the symbol of the cation and then the anion. Add whatever subscripts in order to balance the charges.

Crisscross Method - The numerical value of the charge of each ion is crossed over and becomes the subscripts for the other ion.

Answer 2

You have to make all the elements on one side the same as the other. For example, with water (which is H2O) H2 combines with O2 so the reaction is H2 + O2 = H2O but you see there are only 2 O on the right side so you have to put a 2 in front H2 + O2 = 2xH20 but now there's 4 H's on the right so you have to put a 2 in front of the Hb on the left 2xH2 + O2 = 2xH2O now the equation is balanced 4 H's and 2 O's on each side!

Answer 3

You can write it in words, or in chemical symbols. In the latter case you must use correct chemical formulae and show balancing numbers, so it's often called a balanced equation.

e.g. magnesium + oxygen --> magnesium oxide

2Mg +O2 --> 2MgO

Answer 4

- classic equation
- full ionic equation
- net ionic equation

Answer 5

crisscross method and format method