M4 Periodic Table: Chemical Equations
Slide 17 of 30
Balancing Chemical Equations
2H2 (g) + O2 (g)  ®  2H2O(g)
     reactants product(s)
The above equation is an example of a balanced chemical equation.
A balanced chemical equation shows the same type and equal number of atoms and equal charges on both sides A chemical equation must be balanced because atoms can neither be created nor destroyed, which follows from the law of conservation of mass. So it would be wrong and misleading for a chemical balance sheet which is what a chemical equation is, to show the creation or destruction of atoms!!