Chemistry and system of equations

In summary, the conversation revolves around the possibility of converting a chemical equation into a matrix in order to solve for the balanced coefficients. The idea is to create a system of equations with the coefficients representing the molecules and elements involved. However, there is confusion about the accuracy of this method as negative coefficients are obtained when solving the system. Request for clarification and assistance is made.
  • #1
brad sue
281
0
Hi,
I want to kow if it is possible to convert a chemical equation ( unbalanced)
into a matrix and solve this matrix to find the coeficient of the equations to balance the equations.
For example:
H2SO4+MnS+As2(Cr2O7)5---->HMnO4+AsH3+Cr2(SO4)3+H2O
How to convert it into a matrix of unknowns to find the balanced coefficients?
Thank you
B
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Can you present your thoughts on the matter first?

Thanks.
 
  • #3
Tom Mattson said:
Can you present your thoughts on the matter first?
Thanks.
I think That I need to produce an system of equation with the coefficient as the coefficient of the molecules ( for each element)
for H : 2, 0, 0, -1, -3, 0, -2
for S : 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, -3, 0
for O :4, 0, 35, -4, 0, -12, -1
for Mn : 0, 1, 0, -1, 0, 0 , 0
for As : 0, 0, 2, 0, -1, 0, 0
for Cr : 0, 0, 10, 0, 0, -2, 0
I don't know if I am right , but when I solve this system , I get some negative coefficients which makes no sense.
Please can you help me to understand what is going on here?
Thank you
B.
 

FAQ: Chemistry and system of equations

What is chemistry and why is it important?

Chemistry is the scientific study of matter, its properties, and the changes it undergoes. It is an important field because it helps us understand the world around us, from the composition of everyday objects to the processes that occur in our bodies.

What is a system of equations in chemistry?

A system of equations in chemistry refers to a set of mathematical equations that represent the relationships between different chemical species in a reaction. These equations are used to determine the quantities of reactants and products that will be present at equilibrium.

How are chemical reactions represented using equations?

Chemical reactions are represented using chemical equations, which consist of the reactants on the left side and the products on the right side, separated by an arrow. The numbers in front of each species, known as coefficients, represent the relative amounts of each substance involved in the reaction.

What is stoichiometry and why is it important in chemistry?

Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It is important because it allows us to predict the amount of products that will be formed from a given amount of reactants, and vice versa.

How can systems of equations be solved in chemistry?

In chemistry, systems of equations can be solved using algebraic methods such as substitution, elimination, or using matrices. These methods allow us to determine the unknown quantities of reactants and products in a chemical reaction.

Back
Top