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rishi
rishi asked in Science & MathematicsChemistry · 8 years ago

Basic chemistry!!!! Halp?

So I got my exams tomorrow and I need help in something. Well I know how to balance an equation. But I don't know how to determine how many atoms a certain element or compound has. So if you gave me an equation, I could balance it because it already has the small number on the bottom right hand side of the element. But if you we're to give me a word equation such as (potassium + water > potassium hydroxide + gas) I wouldn't know how many atoms are present in the reactants. So how do I determine the number just from a word equation?

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  • Kat
    8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Maybe yours looks like

    K + H2O -> KOH + gas

    The equation I use is grams=molesxmolarmass

    to find the total number of atoms for the reactants(K and H20) find the number of moles. If it says K2 then there are two moles. Multiply that number of moles by the molar mass. Potasssiums is 39. so for example, K2 (two molesx39=78 grams.) From grams, I multiply it by a mol (6.022x10^23) to find the number of atoms.

    Same for water

  • skipper
    Lv 7
    8 years ago

    You need to know-

    potassium = K

    water = H2O

    potassium hydroxide = KOH

    Then it is easy-

    K + H2O = KOH + H

    2K + 2H2O = 2KOH + H2

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