Balancing Abstract Chemical Equations

choose equation	1
show corresponding system of linear homogeneous equations
show solution

Solve the equation!

x

A

4

+ y

B

3

= z A

B

2

A	4xz
B	3y2z

x	y	z
3	8	12

This Demonstration solves chemical-like equations. Atoms are represented by letters A, B, C, etc. An expression like

P

2

Q

R

3

can be thought of as a "molecule" in which

2P

atoms are joined to a

Q

atom and

3R

atoms. For the equation to be balanced, the atom counts on both sides must be the same.