A Known to Unknown Approach to Balancing Chemical Equations

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 20 (2015) pp 268-270

A Known to Unknown Approach to Balancing Chemical Equations

Thamburaj, Raj and Shadi Abu-Baker*

Faculty at the College of Arts and Sciences, Ohio University Zanesville, Zanesville Ohio 43701, abu@ohio.edu
Received June 15, 2015. Accepted September 30, 2015.

Published: 9 October 2015

Abstract. A student friendly approach to balance chemical equation is presented. This approach is based on simple mathematical concepts quite familiar to a typical student in an introductory chemistry class. By understanding and applying the type of number (odd, even, multiple, etc.) associated with stoichiometric coefficient of every element in a process, the equation is balanced easily and quickly. Redox equations may be balanced without using oxidation numbers.

Key Words: In the Classroom; general chemistry; stoichiometry

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: abu@ohio.edu )

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