1. Balancing Equations
You are responsible for the information and learning how to balance chemical equations
Today in class you must go through the power points and read them.
You may choose to take notes in class or at home from my website (these power points will be on my website)
The last power point titled Balancing Equations #3 has a web link that you need to click on, read and do the assignment at the end.

2. O Ag O Ag
Ag2O Ag + O2
= Ag =
= O =

3. O Ag O O Ag
Ag2O Ag + O2 Ag
1. Count the number of atoms of each element before the reaction and after the reaction.
2 = Ag = 1
1 = O = 2

4. O Ag O O Ag
Ag2O Ag + O2 Ag
2. Look at the first element (Ag)…is it balanced before and after the reaction? NO
3. Look at the second element (O)…is it balanced before and after the reaction?
2 = Ag = 1
1 = O = 2

5. O Ag O O Ag
Ag2O Ag + O2 Ag
Balance the Silver (Ag) by putting a 2 in front of the Ag in the product
2 = Ag = 1
1 = O = 2

6. O Ag O O Ag Ag
Ag2O 2Ag + O2 Ag
Balance the Silver (Ag) by putting a 2 in front of the Ag in the product
2 = Ag = 1
1 = O = 2

7. O O Ag Ag O O O O Ag Ag Ag
Ag2O 2Ag + O2 Ag Ag
Balance the Silver (Ag) by putting a 2 in front of the Ag in the product
2 = Ag = 1 2
1 = O = 2

8. O O Ag Ag O O O O Ag Ag Ag
Ag2O 2Ag + O2 Ag Ag
Now balance the Oxygen by putting a 2 in front of the Silver Oxide (Ag2O) in the reactant
2 = Ag = 1 2
1 = O = 2

9. O Ag O Ag O O O O Ag Ag Ag
2Ag2O 2Ag + O2
Now balance the Oxygen by putting a 2 in front of the Silver Oxide (Ag2O)
2 = Ag = 1 2
1 = O = 2

10. O Ag O Ag O O O O Ag Ag Ag
2Ag2O 2Ag + O2
Now balance the Oxygen by putting a 2 in front of the Silver Oxide (Ag2O)
2 = Ag = 1 2
1 = O = 2
So that changes the oxygen atoms before the reaction to 2...

11. O Ag O Ag O O O O Ag Ag Ag
2Ag2O 2Ag + O2
Now balance the Oxygen by putting a 2 in front of the Silver Oxide (Ag2O)
2 = Ag = 1 2
2 1 = O = 2
So that changes the oxygen atoms before the reaction to 2...

12. O Ag O Ag O O O O Ag Ag Ag
2Ag2O 2Ag + O2
Now balance the Oxygen by putting a 2 in front of the Silver Oxide (Ag2O)
2 = Ag = 1 2
2 1 = O = 2
So that changes the oxygen atoms before the reaction to 2…
But it also changes the silver atoms before the reaction to 4

13. O Ag O Ag O O O O Ag Ag Ag
2Ag2O 2Ag + O2
Now balance the Oxygen by putting a 2 in front of the Silver Oxide (Ag2O)
4 2 = Ag = 1 2
2 1 = O = 2
So that changes the oxygen atoms before the reaction to 2…
But it also changes the silver atoms before the reaction to 4

14. O Ag O Ag O O O O Ag Ag Ag
2Ag2O 2Ag + O2
Now look back at the silver…it is now unbalanced so you must change the number of silver atoms that are produced after the reaction…change it to 4
4 2 = Ag = 1 2
2 1 = O = 2

15. O Ag O Ag Ag Ag Ag O O O O
2Ag2O 4Ag + O2 Ag Ag Ag
Now look back at the silver…it is now unbalanced so you must change the number of silver atoms that are produced after the reaction…change it to 4
4 2 = Ag = 1 2
2 1 = O = 2

16. O Ag O Ag Ag Ag Ag O O O O
2Ag2O 4Ag + O2 Ag Ag Ag
Now look back at the silver…it is now unbalanced so you must change the number of silver atoms that are produced after the reaction…change it to 4
4 2 = Ag = 1 2 4
2 1 = O = 2

17. O Ag O Ag Ag Ag Ag O O O O
2Ag2O 4Ag + O2 Ag Ag Ag
Double Check to make sure that you have the same number of silver atoms on both sides of the equation and the same number of oxygen atoms on both sides of the equation…
4 2 = Ag = 1 2 4
2 1 = O = 2

18. O Ag O Ag Ag Ag Ag O O O O
2Ag2O 4Ag + O2 Ag Ag Ag
Looks good!! So this means that
2 molecules of Ag2O will decompose...
4 2 = Ag = 1 2 4
2 1 = O = 2

19. O Ag O Ag Ag Ag Ag O O O O
2Ag2O 4Ag + O2 Ag Ag Ag
Looks good!! So this means that
2 molecules of Ag2O will decompose...
4 2 = Ag = 1 2 4
2 1 = O = 2

20. O Ag O Ag Ag Ag Ag O O O O
2Ag2O 4Ag + O2 Ag Ag Ag
Looks good!! So this means that
2 molecules of Ag2O will decompose…
To form 4 atoms of silver (Ag)
4 2 = Ag = 1 2 4
2 1 = O = 2

21. O Ag O Ag Ag Ag Ag O O O O
2Ag2O 4Ag + O2 Ag Ag Ag
Looks good!! So this means that
2 molecules of Ag2O will decompose…
To form 4 atoms of silver (Ag)
4 2 = Ag = 1 2 4
2 1 = O = 2

22. O Ag O Ag Ag Ag Ag O O O O
2Ag2O 4Ag + O2 Ag Ag Ag
Looks good!! So this means that
2 molecules of Ag2O will decompose…
To form 4 atoms of silver (Ag)
and 1 molecule of oxygen gas (O2)
4 2 = Ag = 1 2 4
2 1 = O = 2

23. O Ag O Ag Ag Ag Ag O O O O
2Ag2O 4Ag + O2 Ag Ag Ag
Looks good!! So this means that
2 molecules of Ag2O will decompose…
To form 4 atoms of silver (Ag)
and 1 molecule of oxygen gas (O2)
4 2 = Ag = 1 2 4
2 1 = O = 2