THE MASS-CHARGE COEFFICIENT METHOD

Tushar Malhotra (IV Yr.)

Abstract
This paper proposes and illustrates a simple mathematical technique for balancing chemical equations. The idea rests on establishing a system of simultaneous homogenous linear equations for the given chemical equation. A solution of this system yields a set of balanced coefficients for the equation. Several advantages of the technique over other traditional methods are also discussed.

Source of Inspiration
While in school and especially during the competitive examinations, one of the most time-consuming and tedious tasks I encountered while attempting the chemistry section, was balancing chemical equations. The various methods available were either too cumbersome, involving great amount of memorizing or not universally applicable i.e. they were applicable only to a specific type of equations. Hit and trial was the only other option, which, obviously, was not very productive. This paper discusses a handy and straightforward method for balancing all kinds of chemical equations. It is a rather simple and logical application of mathematics, albeit a useful one!

Utility and Salient Features

Some salient features of this method are listed below. It is applicable to all types of chemical equations viz. ionic, molecular, redox etc. unlike most other methods. There is no need to memorize anything (Oxidation states, for example). The application of this method does not require deep knowledge of specific chemical phenomena. Only simple mathematics is involved i.e. solution of simultaneous homogenous linear equations. It provides an inherent testing mechanism to check the validity of a given chemical equation.

Theory and Working Principles

The chemistry involved Law of Conservation of Mass and the Law of Conservation of Charge. During any chemical change, the total mass of each element involved must be conserved. In other words the number of atoms of each element participating in the reaction must be conserved. (i.e. if no nuclear change is involved) Also, the total charge must be conserved during a reaction.

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The Mathematics Involved1 A system of homogenous linear equations either has only a trivial zero solution or infinitely many solutions. Consider the following system of m homogenous linear equations in n variables: a11x1 + a12x2 + + a1nxn = 0 a21x1 + a22x2 + + a2nxn = 0 a31x1 + a32x2 + + a3nxn = 0 . am1x1 + am2x2 + + amnxn = 0 Let r be the rank of coefficient matrix. Then 1. If r = n, the system has only a trivial zero solution. If r < n, the system has (n r) linearly independent solutions. That is, if arbitrary values are assigned to (n r) of the variables, the values of rest can be uniquely determined. Thus the system has infinitely many solutions. 2. If m = n, the necessary and sufficient condition for solutions other than trivial zero solution is that the determinant of coefficient matrix (eliminant) is zero. In this case the equations are said to be consistent and there are infinitely many solutions. 3. If m < n the solution is always other than the trivial zero solution. There are infinitely many solutions. This is the entire theoretical background necessary to understand and apply this method. The chemical equation to be balanced is decomposed into a system of homogenous linear equations having non trivial solution. A solution set of this system then gives the required coefficients for the balanced chemical equation. The exact procedure to be adopted is outlined in the following section.

Working Method
1. 2. Each reactant and product entity is assigned a mass-charge coefficient viz. R1, R2, R3 Rn (for reactants) and P1, P2, P3 Pn (for products). Since the mass of each element must be conserved (and thus the no. of atoms), we equate the sum of coefficients of same elements on either side for each element. If required, we apply charge conservation similarly to obtain another relation in terms of the coefficients. Thus, we get a system of homogenous linear equations in terms of the assumed coefficients. From the above discussion of such a system, it is clear that the system so obtained will invariably have infinitely many solutions if the chemical equation under consideration is valid. That is, r < n must be satisfied in all cases. If not, it indicates that the chemical equation is not valid. Another check for validity is that the values of all the coefficients obtained in the solution must be non zero. The existence of infinite number of solutions represents the fact that multiplying both sides of a

3.

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4.

5.

balanced chemical equation by an arbitrary non-zero value does not affect its balanced or chemical nature. By suitably expressing all coefficients in terms of (n r) coefficients and assigning appropriate values to these (n r) coefficients we determine the others uniquely as discussed above. Thus, we get a solution set for the values of the coefficients in the balanced equation. Note that in general, we need not determine the rank r. This is because generally the system of equations obtained can be solved easily and requires only very little manipulation. The value of (nr) is found to be 1 (or small) in most of the cases (that is the values of all the coefficients can be obtained in terms of any one of them which behaves as a parameter). Also, in general, the no. of equations obtained is less than the no. of assumed coefficients i.e. m < n, so that there is no need to determine the eliminant either. This eliminates much complexity.

The aforesaid procedure will become clear from the following illustrative examples.

Illustrative Examples
1. Zn R1 + HNO 3 R2 Zn (NO3)2 P1 + N 2O P2 + H 2O P3

Five mass-charge coefficients, one for each participating entity, have been assumed. We now form the required equations by comparing the coefficients of each element on both sides. Zn: H: N: O: R1 = P1 R2 = 2P3 R2 = 2P1 + 2P2 R2 = 6P1 + P2 + P3 or or or or R1 P1 = 0 . (a) R2 2P3 = 0 ... (b) R2 2P1 2P2 = 0 .. (c) 3R2 6P1 P2 P3 = 0 ... (d)

Thus we have a system of 4 homogenous linear equations in 5 variables. Or, n = 5 and m = 4. Since m < n, the system necessarily has infinite solutions (we need not test the eliminant) Now, the coefficient matrix is:R1 1 0 0 0 R2 0 1 1 3 P1 -1 0 -2 -6 P2 0 0 -2 -1 P3 0 -2 0 -1

The rank r of this matrix can be easily found by reducing it to its Normal form by elementary transformations.
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The rank in this case is found to be 4. That is r = 4. Thus r < n, is satisfied. Here, (n r) = (5 - 4) = 1. There is only one linearly independent solution. In other words we can uniquely determine the values of any four of the variables (coefficients) by fixing the value of the fifth one. We now solve the above system to get the values of four coefficients in terms of the fifth one (parameter). From (a), (b) and (d), R2 = 2R1 + 2P2 3R2 = 6R1 + P2 + R2/2 Or, 5R2 = 12R1 + 2P2 From (c) 5R2 = 10R1 + 10P2 From (e) and (f) R1 = 4P2 Also, R2 = 10P2 P1 = 4P2 P3 = 5P2 Thus we have expressed all coefficients in terms of P2. Now put, P2 = 1, so that, R1 = 4 R2 = 10 P1 = 4 P3 = 5 Thus the balanced chemical equation is: 4Zn 2. + 10HNO3 4Zn (NO3)2 CO 32- + N 2O
-

(e)

(f)

5H 2O HCO3 -

Use Of Charge Balancing Equation And Validity Check Q: Balance, in neutral medium. Solution Br 2 R1 + CO 32- R2 Br P1
-

Br 2

Br

BrO 3 - +

BrO 3- + P2

HCO3 P3

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We have,

2 R1 R2 3R2

= = = =

P1 P3 3P 2 3P 2

+ + +

P2 3P 3 3R2

Or, P2 = 0. As one coefficient is 0, the equation cannot be valid On careful observation we find that there is no H on LHS. We have ignored the neutral medium condition. The corrected equation is: Br 2 R1 The equations are: Br: H: O: C: 2 R3 = 2 R1 2 R2 R2 R3 P1 = = + = + P1 P3 3 R3 P3 P2 + P3 (e) = 3P 2 + 3P 3 + P2 (a) (b) (c) (d) + H 2O R2 + CO 32- R3 Br P1
-

BrO 3- + P2

HCO3 P3

By charge conservation: Here, m = 5 and n = 6. So there are infinite solutions. There is no need to find the eliminant. Note that if charge conservation was not used, (n r) would have been greater than 1. Solving the above we get: R1 = R3/2 R2 = R3/2 P1 = (5/6) R3 P2 = (1/6) R3 P3 = R3 Putting R3 = 6, we get the required coefficients. Thus the balanced equation is: 3Br 2 + 1. 3H2O + 6CO 32- 5Br + BrO 3- + 6HCO3 Higher Engineering Mathematics, B. S. Grewal

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