How do you balance a chemical reaction word equation?!
I don't know that you do. The only thing I would do is to convert the word equation to the corresponding chemical equation, then balance that.
but how do i balcane the charges? i don't understand what to do with them. i know i am supposed to bring them down, but down where?
In a word equation there are no charges. Perhaps you put it in chemical form and convert back to balance word equation. I'm not familiar with this phrasing so you need to review your notes.
Balancing a chemical reaction word equation involves ensuring that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. To do this, you can follow these steps:
1. Write down the unbalanced equation: Start by writing the reactants on the left side of the equation and the products on the right side.
2. Count the number of atoms for each element: Go through the entire equation and count the number of atoms for each element on both sides.
3. Balance the atoms in the equation: Begin by balancing atoms of elements that appear in only one reactant and one product. Adjust the coefficients (numbers in front of the formulas) to achieve equal numbers of those atoms on both sides of the equation. Avoid changing subscripts as it would result in different compounds.
4. Balance polyatomic ions: If any polyatomic ions, such as sulfate (SO4) or ammonium (NH4), appear on both sides of the equation, balance them as a single unit.
5. Check the equation for balance: Double-check that the number of atoms for each element is now equal on both sides of the equation.
Here's an example to illustrate this process:
Unbalanced equation: H2 + O2 → H2O
Counting atoms: Hydrogen - 2 on the left, 2 on the right; Oxygen - 2 on the left, 1 on the right.
Balancing atoms: Add a coefficient of 2 in front of H2O to balance the hydrogen atoms: H2 + O2 → 2H2O
Now, check the equation again: Hydrogen - 2 on the left, 4 on the right; Oxygen - 2 on the left, 4 on the right.
The equation is now balanced, with equal numbers of atoms on both sides: 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O