Input interpretation
Ca(OH)_2 calcium hydroxide + NH_4NO_3 ammonium nitrate ⟶ NH_4OH ammonium hydroxide + Ca(NO_3)_2 calcium nitrate
Balanced equation
Balance the chemical equation algebraically: Ca(OH)_2 + NH_4NO_3 ⟶ NH_4OH + Ca(NO_3)_2 Add stoichiometric coefficients, c_i, to the reactants and products: c_1 Ca(OH)_2 + c_2 NH_4NO_3 ⟶ c_3 NH_4OH + c_4 Ca(NO_3)_2 Set the number of atoms in the reactants equal to the number of atoms in the products for Ca, H, O and N: Ca: | c_1 = c_4 H: | 2 c_1 + 4 c_2 = 5 c_3 O: | 2 c_1 + 3 c_2 = c_3 + 6 c_4 N: | 2 c_2 = c_3 + 2 c_4 Since the coefficients are relative quantities and underdetermined, choose a coefficient to set arbitrarily. To keep the coefficients small, the arbitrary value is ordinarily one. For instance, set c_1 = 1 and solve the system of equations for the remaining coefficients: c_1 = 1 c_2 = 2 c_3 = 2 c_4 = 1 Substitute the coefficients into the chemical reaction to obtain the balanced equation: Answer: | | Ca(OH)_2 + 2 NH_4NO_3 ⟶ 2 NH_4OH + Ca(NO_3)_2