How to balance complicated chemical equations?

1 Answer
Jul 29, 2017

Every chemical equation balances MASS and CHARGE.......

Explanation:

You gots a metal carbonate, say ZnCO3(s):

ZnCO3(s)+2HCl(aq)ZnCl2(aq)+CO2(g)+H2O(l)

Are mass and charge balanced here? If they are not then you cannot accept the equation as a representation of chemical reality. And if you start with 10g of reactant from all sources, you inevitably finish with 10g product.......

The lesson that I try to reinforce is that mass and charge are CONSERVED.

Carbonates (and these are often insoluble salts) react with acids according to the following net ionic equation......

CO23+2H+CO2(g)+H2O(l)

You simply have to know these reactions, and how to balance them stoichiometrically.

And likewise for bicarbonates......

HCO3+H+CO2(g)+H2O(l)

Bicarbonate salts TEND to be soluble. Carbonate salts tend to be insoluble. But this is the province of experiment.