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deleted244469
Anyone have ANY pointers? I can solve the basic ones, but get pretty lost with the more advanced ones. Any help would be great.
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There's really not much more to it than making sure the number of atoms of each element on one side equals the number of said atoms on the other; just one of those problems you have to grind away at until you finally get it.
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Write all the atoms out in a straight vertical column. On the left side of each atom, write the number of the respective atom for the reactant side.
Do the same for the right. As you manipulate the reaction/change coefficients, be sure to update this list for EVERY step. That way you don't have to try to keep up with it in your mind.
You get paper and pencil on the MCAT, you'll be able to use this same strategy.
Do the same for the right. As you manipulate the reaction/change coefficients, be sure to update this list for EVERY step. That way you don't have to try to keep up with it in your mind.
You get paper and pencil on the MCAT, you'll be able to use this same strategy.
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I disagree. I tutor, and for people with no experience balancing equations, this seems to be the most effective way to teach this. Not everyone did AP Chemistry in high school. When first learning/practicing, it makes it alot easier to keep track of things.
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I would just stare at it and juggle numbers in my head. Then I plugged numbers in. Sometimes a second try would be necessary. Not much more that you can do.
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Make a straight line beside the equation like somebody said above. Works for me.
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Make an "atom bank" when you begin the equation. You have to remember that the atoms on one side will ALWAYS equal the atoms you have on the other side. So at the beginning, just look at the elements in the equation, and write down how many atoms of each there are, regardless of compound. Then once you have that listed, look at the other side and write down how many atoms are currently there.
Compare the lists, and then begin balancing. Leave Hydrogen and Oxygen for last, they tend to get manipulated in the crossfire at some points, so balance other elements before getting to those two.
Also, remember that if you ever need to use a coefficient like 5.5, there can never be "half" of an atom, so in that case you would need to double EVERY coefficient you have on both sides, even if you didn't modify it at all before.
Search Google for "balancing chemical equations" practice and try some of those until you get good at them, once you can do them easily it actually gets fun, like solving a puzzle.
This method may seem like a "waste of time", but it helps keep you mentally organized and if you keep updating the list as jm192 said, you'll never really get stuck.
Compare the lists, and then begin balancing. Leave Hydrogen and Oxygen for last, they tend to get manipulated in the crossfire at some points, so balance other elements before getting to those two.
Also, remember that if you ever need to use a coefficient like 5.5, there can never be "half" of an atom, so in that case you would need to double EVERY coefficient you have on both sides, even if you didn't modify it at all before.
Search Google for "balancing chemical equations" practice and try some of those until you get good at them, once you can do them easily it actually gets fun, like solving a puzzle.
This method may seem like a "waste of time", but it helps keep you mentally organized and if you keep updating the list as jm192 said, you'll never really get stuck.
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