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Balancing Chemical Formulas This tutoring session is designed to help anyone who is struggling balancing equations

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Remember! Matter can never be created nor can it be destroyed (Theory of conservation of matter) This means that whatever elements go into a chemical equation (Reactants) must also come out of the chemical equation (Products) So the goal when balancing a chemical formula is just to make sure you have the same number of atoms on each side The catch is, that you can only manipulate the amount of each molecule

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2 Hydrogens 2 Oxygens 2 Hydrogens 1 Oxygen

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ONLY Change the Big Number Remember, when balancing an equation you can only change the big number out front (Coefficient) That number multiplies all of the atoms in the compound it is in front of You can change the amount of the molecule in the equation, but you cannot change the molecule So dont put coefficients inside of a molecule and dont try to change the subscript (small) numbers

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Practice To be successful at this technique, it takes practice. Try a couple of these websites, and if you are still struggling, stop in and I will help you!!! http://www.files.chem.vt.edu/RVGS/ACT/notes/s cripts/bal_eq1.html http://www.files.chem.vt.edu/RVGS/ACT/notes/s cripts/bal_eq1.html http://education.jlab.org/elementbalancing/inde x.html http://education.jlab.org/elementbalancing/inde x.html http://misterguch.brinkster.net/eqnbalance.html