Question

How would you balance the following equation: Na2CO3 + BaCl2 --> NaCl + BaCO3?

Answer 1

`Na_2CO_3+BaCl_2->2NaCl+BaCO_3`

Explanation:

It is important to notice that the `CO_3^(2-)` is a polyatomic ion, known as the carbonate ion. When balancing equations with polyatomic ions you can consider them to be a single entity.

On the reactant side you have:
2 `Na`
1 `CO_3` ion
1 `Ba`
2 `Cl`

By placing 2 moles on the product side you conserve the mass of both `Na` and `Cl`.

Since there is one `CO_3` ion and one`Ba` you don't need to worry about their stoiciometric coefficient.