How do you balance "CaCl"_2 + "Cr"("NO"_3)_3 -> "Ca"("NO"_3)_2 + "CrCl"_3CaCl2+Cr(NO3)3→Ca(NO3)2+CrCl3?

1 Answer
Bio
Jan 15, 2016

"3CaCl"_2 + 2"Cr"("NO"_3)_3 -> 3"Ca"("NO"_3)_2 + 2"CrCl"_33CaCl2+2Cr(NO3)3→3Ca(NO3)2+2CrCl3

Explanation:

Look for the element that appears the least and balance that first. (Just as when you solve simultaneous linear equation, the variable that appears least often is the easiest to eliminate.) In this case, it is either Ca or Cr. The equation given to us already has both balanced.

Now we try to balance Cl, while making sure that Ca and Cr remains balanced as well. We get:

"CaCl"_2 + 2/3"Cr"("NO"_3)_3 -> "Ca"("NO"_3)_2 + 2/3"CrCl"_3CaCl2+23Cr(NO3)3→Ca(NO3)2+23CrCl3

To get integer coefficients, multiply everywhere by 3.

Related questions
See all questions in Balancing Chemical Equations
Impact of this question
1808 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License