Balancing chemical equations?

mshultz · May 11, 2004

blue eyes:

The numbers of each element on the left must equal the numbers of each element on the right. You have:

1 Na

1 Cl

3 O

2 H

Since you have NaCl on the right, this leaves 1 C, 3 O and 2 H. Since the positive and negative charges of each molecule must balance, the only possible answer is H2O + CO2.

mariessas_mom · May 11, 2004

When I took chemistry. I took a handful of equations and kept practicing on them and amazangly it started to make sense and then seemed easy. It is just one of those things that tske practice, practice, practice! But definately my least favorite of any class I have ever taken, aghhhh! :uhoh3:

manna, BSN, RN · May 11, 2004

I despised my chemistry course. May have been because I took it online and didn't get much feedback as to what I was doing right/wrong.

I agree with the previous poster - the best way to understand chem is to work lots of problems. Sort of like a math class. I'm sure there are lots of great websites for helping learn chem as well, but I don't happen to know any right off hand... :)

blue eyes · May 12, 2004

Thank you. It makes more sense now (balancing) - I spoke to a few people who have suggested making notes/diagrams on palm cards or A3 paper & stick your notes to the wall. At times I find lecture notes which make more sense than the text.

Deb123j · May 12, 2004

I am currently taking chemistry and have problems like this one. Once I get into nursing school, do I really need to know all this stuff???

darby1 · May 13, 2004

I am currently taking chemistry and have problems like this one. Once I get into nursing school, do I really need to know all this stuff???

I haven't used the first Chemistry equation in nursing school, and I just graduated. In fact, I haven't used that stupid azz "mole crap" since I left that stupid course :rotfl: . The most valuable stuff you should gather will be basic symbols for the most common electrolytes such as Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Potassium(K), etc. This will help you to recognize what your text book is talking about, and will serve you well throughout school. I still have a "periodic chart of the elements" posted on my wall beside my desk for reference. Chemistry was a aggravating class, in my opinion, but I aced it just like my other science courses. I just could not see "my harvest" for all my hard work. Chemistry sux...IMHO...LOL.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · May 13, 2004

Im taking chem starting in July and yall are scarring the H.E.L.L out of me:uhoh21:

Hi! I'm have trouble understanding how balance a chemical equation and would like to know if anyone has a way to facilitate understanding of balancing a chemical equations?

I handed in a lab report last week and one of the questions was - complete and balancing the chemical equation 'NaHCO3 + HCl à NaCl + _____ + ______ : I came up with H20 + CO2 (in Anatomy & Physiology by Saladin) . Which is balanced but I still can't 'see' it.

Deb123j · May 13, 2004

Im taking chem starting in July and yall are scarring the H.E.L.L out of me:uhoh21:

I'm not going to lie, if you're not good in science it's a pain!!! HOWEVER - if you study, study, study, you should do ok. I study a little bit every night and I do the problems at the end of the chapter (review problems) several times and I'm not doing too bad. I have a B average so far.

:angryfire I HATE the freakin MOLE also!!!!!:angryfire

studentnurse74, LPN, LVN · May 13, 2004

I haven't used the first Chemistry equation in nursing school, and I just graduated. In fact, I haven't used that stupid azz "mole crap" since I left that stupid course :rotfl: . The most valuable stuff you should gather will be basic symbols for the most common electrolytes such as Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Potassium(K), etc. This will help you to recognize what your text book is talking about, and will serve you well throughout school. I still have a "periodic chart of the elements" posted on my wall beside my desk for reference. Chemistry was a aggravating class, in my opinion, but I aced it just like my other science courses. I just could not see "my harvest" for all my hard work. Chemistry sux...IMHO...LOL.

That was my worst subject in high school, and thank goodness my school doesn't require it! I'm glad I probably won't see anything like that in nursing!

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · May 13, 2004

Oh Ill be ok ,chem is the one class besides algebra that I fear. It is my last science. Ill just live and breath it....:)

I'm not going to lie, if you're not good in science it's a pain!!! HOWEVER - if you study, study, study, you should do ok. I study a little bit every night and I do the problems at the end of the chapter (review problems) several times and I'm not doing too bad. I have a B average so far.
:angryfire I HATE the freakin MOLE also!!!!!:angryfire

psychomachia · May 13, 2004

Chemistry sux...

but not as much as nursing "theory"....