Quick Question Regarding Chemistry

[DirkaFat]

When balancing a reaction, what do I do when I see a molecule in parenthesis?

 

For example

 

(NO3)4  <- 3 and 4 are underscribed (like you see in molecules)

 

Do I distribute the 4 to both N and O? Making it N4 O12?

 

 

It was hard explain, so I decided to ask here. Hopefully someone understands what I'm asking.

[RatedBlam]

I know how to balance equations but I don't get Catch With the example, also I might be a little rusty

Edit: does that mean that you have 4 no3

[Volbet]

My best guess is that it means that you have 4 NO₃ molecules, but I am not sure.

[Cacao]

That just means that you have the molecule 4 times, it would be the same as writing it in front of the molecule like: 4NO3

[DirkaFat]

I know how to balance equations but I don't get Catch With the example, also I might be a little rusty

For example, if one of the reactants is (NO3)4, what do I do?

 

 

(N is nitrogen, O is oxygen, etc.)

[ComputerNoob]

chemistry? i only know stuff about tech.

[CjlabanG]

Yes.

As far as I've learned: (NO₃)₄ = N₁₍₄₎O₃₍₄₎

[DirkaFat]

That just means that you have the molecule 4 times, it would be the same as writing it in front of the molecule like: 4NO3

Does it make it N4 O12?

[RatedBlam]

For example, if one of the reactants is (NO3)4, what do I do?

 

 

(N is nitrogen, O is oxygen, etc.)

read my edit and yes to the ^

[Cacao]

Does it make it N4 O12?

Pretty much, but you shouldn't write it like that, because you're changing the chemical composition. Can you write out the whole reaction?

[CjlabanG]

Does it make it N4 O12?

What equation are you working on?

[Morpheus]

I took grade 11 chem so yes, there are 4 nitrogen atoms and 12 oxygen atoms

 

When balancing a reaction, what do I do when I see a molecule in parenthesis?

 

For example

 

(NO3)4  <- 3 and 4 are underscribed (like you see in molecules)

 

Do I distribute the 4 to both N and O? Making it N4 O12?

 

 

It was hard explain, so I decided to ask here. Hopefully someone understands what I'm asking.

[DirkaFat]

Pretty much, but you shouldn't write it like that, because you're changing the chemical composition. Can you write out the whole reaction?

__Th(NO3)4 + __ K3PO4  -> __ Th3(PO4)4 + __ KNO3

 

 

 

The blanks are where the numbers would go, in order to balance the reaction.

[RatedBlam]

__Th(NO3)4 + __ K3PO4  -> __ Th3(PO4)4 + __ KNO3

3Th(NO3)4 + 4K3PO4 = Th3(PO4)4 + 12KNO3, I possibly ballsed it up I'm very rusty

[Cacao]

__Th(NO3)4 + __ K3PO4  -> __ Th3(PO4)4 + __ KNO3

 

 

 

The blanks are where the numbers would go, in order to balance the reaction.

So that would become (haven't done these in a while, so I hope it's right):

 

3Th(NO3)4 + 4K3PO4 = Th3(PO4)4 + 12KNO3

[DirkaFat]

3Th(NO3)4 + 4K3PO4 = Th3(PO4)4 + 12KNO3, I possibly ballsed it up I'm very rusty

 

So that would become (haven't done these in a while, so I hope it's right):

 

3Th(NO3)4 + 4K3PO4 = Th3(PO4)4 + 12KNO3

Yep, I tried the question myself using what I've been told in this thread, and I also get that answer.

 

 

Thanks for the quick replies

[RatedBlam]

Yep, I tried the question myself using what I've been told in this thread, and I also get that answer.

 

 

Thanks for the quick replies

Happy to help, and some actual use for this kind of chemistry

[CjlabanG]

Yep, I tried the question myself using what I've been told in this thread, and I also get that answer.

 

 

Thanks for the quick replies

If all else fails, just use a balancer. Google is your friend.

[qwertywarrior]

lol awesome work guys

[qwertywarrior]

@DirkaFat

 

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Th%28NO3%294+%2B++K3PO4++%3D+Th3%28PO4%294+%2B++KNO3

 

 

i used this

 

this will solve ALL your problems

[Cacao]

@DirkaFat

 

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Th%28NO3%294+%2B++K3PO4++%3D+Th3%28PO4%294+%2B++KNO3

 

 

i used this

 

this will solve ALL your problems

Maybe use that to double check your homework or something, but he should definitely learn how to do it himself instead of depending on something like that. Otherwise what's the point?

[qwertywarrior]

Maybe use that to double check your homework or something, but he should definitely learn how to do it himself instead of depending on something like that. Otherwise what's the point?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpxd3pZAVHI

[the_devil52]

When balancing a reaction, what do I do when I see a molecule in parenthesis?

 

For example

 

(NO3)4  <- 3 and 4 are underscribed (like you see in molecules)

 

Do I distribute the 4 to both N and O? Making it N4 O12?

 

 

It was hard explain, so I decided to ask here. Hopefully someone understands what I'm asking.

 

No its not N4 O12..It just means that there are 4 molecules of NO3.

[DirkaFat]

No its not N4 O12..It just means that there are 4 molecules of NO3.

Yeah, in other words there are 4 nitrogen atoms and 12 oxygen atoms (that together make 4 molecules of NO3), I just put it as N4O12 because it's easier when balancing the reaction.

 

 

Edit: I'm pretty sure that's how it works, correct me if I'm wrong

[Cacao]

Yeah, in other words there are 4 nitrogen atoms and 12 oxygen atoms (that together make 4 molecules of NO3), I just put it as N4O12 because it's easier when balancing the reaction.

 

 

Edit: I'm pretty sure that's how it works, correct me if I'm wrong

That's correct for the number of atoms and you can use that to calculate it, but don't actually write it in your test or homework because it will be marked as wrong. For this particular exersize they mean the same thing, but they don't in others because you're writing that there's a molecule with 4 N and 12 O atoms, which is false, there are 4 seperate molecules, each contain 1 N atom and 3 O atoms.