<p>out of curiosity---which method do you use to balance your equations---the guess and check or the algebraic method?</p>
<p>I'm assuming you mean the chemical kind.</p>
<p>I'm not aware of any special methods (especially the algebraic kind) for balancing these. I just look at the coefficients, etc. and decide what the desired factor is.</p>
<p>oh---yeah i mean chemical kind....there is an algebra way and it really helps</p>
<p>you assign each coefficient a variable (a,b,c,d,e.....)
you then determine the relationships to get the coefficients.much easier than guessing.</p>
<p>heres an example:</p>
<p>(a)Al(NO)3 + (b)Na2S --> (c)Al2S3 + (d)NaNO3</p>
<p>Al: 1 a=2c
N: 3a= 1d
O: 9a=3d
Na: 2b=1 d
S: 1 b=3c</p>
<p>assume a= 1
so a=1
plug in a to get other values
you get b=3/2
c=1/2
d=3
now multiply through to get whole numbers</p>
<p>a=2
b=3
c=1
d=6</p>
<p>Get it? My teacher just showed us this today and I think it helps a lot for the bigger/organic equations</p>
<p>I think I use a similar method, only I don't bother with the variables.</p>
<p>what in the hell is all that none sense :)</p>
<p>there is no need for all that... just look at it and use common sense</p>
<p>I just guesss until I get it lol...really slow :p We're getting into some harder ones occaisonally, I might try the mathilicious method :D</p>
<p>Using some chem rules (and intuitive guessing) you can usually get around the math way. The math way is good, don't get me wrong, it's just that sometimes it takes too long on a test. Plus, the math way may not work for redox stuff if things are being pulled off water (i think...)</p>
<p>Yeah... if there's an odd coefficient with even ones, you know you're going to have to change it to even. I just use my head and do calculations fast. I often overshoot and multiply with a larger multiple, then I just simplify down to the lowest coefficients in my head.</p>