However, the Gaussian elimination method actually could find a solution for any number of equations and unknowns. Of course, you could not expect that the number of unknowns will always be equal to the number of equations. This system could be solved by using the Gaussian elimination method. Now we can rewrite this system in matrix form:
Here we have five equations for four unknowns, however, the last one is dependent on the fourth, so it can be omitted. They will form a system of linear equations: Then we write the balance equations for each element in terms of the unknowns: We start by introducing unknown coefficients: Let me illustrate this method by example. Therefore this method could be used for any type of chemical reaction (including redox reactions). So, you just need to create a set of algebraic equations expressing the number of atoms of each element involved in the reaction and solve it. Balancing chemical equations is the process of ensuring the conservation of matter. Therefore, the number of each type of atom on each side of a chemical equation must be the same. The algebraic method is based on the Law of Conservation of Mass – that matter can neither be created nor destroyed.
#Chemical equation balancer lab manual#
This chemical equation balancer uses the algebraic method – which is usually quite complex for manual calculations, however, it fits the computer program perfectly. The last two are used for redox reactions.
Ion-electron method, or half-reaction method.Inspection method, or "hit & trial" method.There are several methods of balancing chemical equations: