Chemical Equation Balancer
Master chemical equation balancing with interactive visual feedback. Practice with preset equations, see atom counts update in real-time, and learn the conservation of mass principle.
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Balancing chemical equations is a fundamental skill in chemistry that demonstrates the Law of Conservation of Mass. This interactive simulation provides hands-on practice with six different reaction types.
The Law of Conservation of Mass
Antoine Lavoisier established in 1789 that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. This means the number of atoms of each element must be the same on both sides of a chemical equation.
Types of Chemical Reactions
| Reaction Type | General Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Combustion | Fuel + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O | CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O |
| Synthesis | A + B → AB | N₂ + 3H₂ → 2NH₃ |
| Decomposition | AB → A + B | 2H₂O₂ → 2H₂O + O₂ |
| Single Replacement | A + BC → AC + B | Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂ |
| Double Replacement | AB + CD → AD + CB | NaCl + AgNO₃ → NaNO₃ + AgCl |
| Redox | Electron transfer | Fe₂O₃ + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO₂ |
Balancing Strategy
- Count atoms on each side of the equation
- Balance metals first, then non-metals
- Balance hydrogen and oxygen last
- Use smallest whole number coefficients
- Double-check all atom counts
References
- Zumdahl, S. & Zumdahl, S. (2017). Chemistry (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
- Brown, T., LeMay, H., & Bursten, B. (2018). Chemistry: The Central Science (14th ed.). Pearson.
Written by Simulations4All Team
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