Troubleshooting Chemical Equations: Tips for Balancing and Correcting Formulas"

[The_Brain]

I'm having trouble balancing this equation. I'm positive I've written the formula out correctly. Maybe there is a typo somewhere...

The question is:

magnesium hydroxide(aq) + ammonium phosphate(aq) --> magnesium phosphate(c) + ammonia(g) + water(l)

This is the formula I wrote out as:

MgOH(2) + (NH(4))3PO(4) --> Mg(3)(PO(4))2 + NH(3) + H(2)O

Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks

 

[Monique]

Your reaction is not balanced, look at the numner of oxygen atoms you have before and after the reaction.. neogenesis? :P

O: 14 to 9
check out your other atoms and figure out what is wrong with the equation.

Mg for instance, before the reaction you have got one molecule, after you magically have 3?

 

[ShawnD]

Ok based on the equation you gave, I think I got her.

3Mg(OH)2 + 2(NH4)3PO4 ---> Mg3(PO4)2 + 6NH3 + 6H20

I balanced it in this order:
1. balance P
2. balance N
3. balance Mg
4. balance O
5. balance H

 

[Monique]

I think a good stragegy might be balancing the atoms first, which are present only in one molecule at each side of the arrow.

So Shawn, your example is good since H was balanced last, O one before the last. That is good thinking.

 

[Another God]

3Mg(OH)2 + 2(NH4)3PO4 ---> Mg3(PO4)2 + 6NH3 + 6H20

3Mg(OH)_2 + 2(NH_4)_3PO_4 \longrightarrow Mg_3(PO_4)_2 + 6NH_3 + 6H_2O