Balance the following equation
CH4+NH3+O2=HCN+H20
To balance the given equation:
Step 1: Count the number of atoms on both sides of the equation.
On the left side:
C: 1
H: 4
N: 1
O: 2
On the right side:
H: 2
C: 1
N: 1
O: 1
Step 2: Begin balancing with the most complex molecule. In this case, it is HCN.
Add a coefficient of 2 to HCN:
2HCN
Now the equation becomes:
CH4 + NH3 + O2 = 2HCN + H2O
Step 3: Balance the number of hydrogen atoms.
On the left side:
4 hydrogen atoms from CH4
3 hydrogen atoms from NH3
Total: 7 hydrogen atoms
On the right side:
4 hydrogen atoms from H2O
2 hydrogen atoms from 2HCN
Total: 6 hydrogen atoms
Add a coefficient of 6 in front of H2O:
CH4 + NH3 + O2 = 2HCN + 6H2O
Step 4: Balance the number of oxygen atoms.
On the left side:
2 oxygen atoms from O2
On the right side:
6 oxygen atoms from 6H2O
2 oxygen atoms from 2HCN
Total: 8 oxygen atoms
Add a coefficient of 4 in front of O2:
CH4 + NH3 + 4O2 = 2HCN + 6H2O
Now the equation is balanced with equal number of atoms on both sides.
The balanced equation is:
CH4 + NH3 + 4O2 = 2HCN + 6H2O
To balance the equation CH4 + NH3 + O2 = HCN + H2O, you need to ensure that the same number of atoms of each element are present on both sides of the equation. Here's how you can balance it step by step:
1. Start by balancing the carbon (C) atoms. There is only one carbon atom on the left side, represented by CH4, and one on the right side, represented by HCN. Therefore, this is already balanced.
CH4 + NH3 + O2 = HCN + H2O
2. Next, balance the hydrogen (H) atoms. There are 4 hydrogen atoms on the left side (from CH4), while there is only 1 on the right side (from HCN). To balance this, add a coefficient of "4" in front of HCN.
CH4 + NH3 + O2 = 4HCN + H2O
3. Now, balance the nitrogen (N) atoms. There is 1 nitrogen atom on the left side, represented by NH3, and 1 nitrogen atom on the right side, represented by HCN. Hence, it is already balanced.
CH4 + NH3 + O2 = 4HCN + H2O
4. Lastly, balance the oxygen (O) atoms. There are no oxygen atoms on the left side, but there are 2 oxygen atoms on the right side (from HCN and H2O). To balance this, add a coefficient of "2" in front of O2.
CH4 + NH3 + 2O2 = 4HCN + H2O
And there you have it! The balanced equation is:
CH4 + NH3 + 2O2 = 4HCN + H2O