Whole numbers

[JasmineReyes-2K]

When balancing the equations and we run into a situation where we have a fraction such as lecture, do we multiply by the nearest whole number or the denominator to cancel the fraction?

[Andrew Nguyen 2K]

You should divide by the denominator in order to remove the fraction. However, if there are multiple fractions then a shared multiple would work.

[KatieWu 1E]

You should multiply by the denominator to cancel out the fraction if there's only one fraction or if the fractions have the same denominator, since the goal is to have all of the coefficients be whole numbers. If there are multiple fractions just multiply by the LCM

[Maeve Settle 2B]

Hello! Technically the fraction in the balanced equation is correct, but for our purposes, it's better to have whole number coefficients when balancing chemical equations because it makes any future stoichiometric calculations a lot easier. Definitely multiply the balanced equation by the necessary number to get rid of the fraction, and remember to do the same adjustment on both sides of your equation! Hope this helps.

[Samir Panwar]

In order to cancel the fraction, I would suggest multiplying by the denominator to remove the fraction and make it so that the balanced equation is all whole numbers in the smallest form, the empirical formula.

[ThomasL1L]

You should multiply by the denominator in order to get a whole number for each. In the case that there are multiple which should be very uncommon multiply by the LCM. I think the confusion on the division stems from the need to divide by the lowest molar amount when getting the empirical formula from the mass composition with the assumption of 100 g. After the division of the percentages by the molar mass would you then divide by the lowest number to hopefully get whole numbers as the subscripts for each.

[Evan L 2B]

You would multiply by the denominator to get the nearest whole number. In the case that you have multiple fractions, then multiply by the LCM so that you get a balanced equation with the smallest whole numbers.

[405532435]

Some answers said that dividing by the denominator would be the best solution. However, it would be easiest to multiply by the denominator to cancel out the fraction. For example, multiplying 5/2 by 2 to get 5! Hope this helps!

[Karen Nguyen 3E]

When balancing equations and running into a fractions, you should multiply the denominator to get rid of the fraction. That way, the whole equation would have only whole numbers as coefficients. Make sure to turn the decimal value to an improper fraction before doing so!

[LouiseLin2L]

It depends on the situation. Usually it would be more convenient for later calculations to divide by the denominators and have whole numbers, but when running into situations like given a specific number of moles for a particular substance and the balanced equation involved fractions when using that number, it may be better to keep the equation in that form.

[Jamie Park 2F]

I think you can multiply by the smallest whole number that makes the coefficient the smallest whole number. For example, we can multiply 3 to 0.33 (coefficient in this case) in order to make the coefficient approximately equal to 1.

[Daniela G 2C]

You would multiply by the denominator! I find it is the fastest way than figuring out what number to multiply to get the nearest whole number. For example, if you had 9/2, you can multiply by 2 (the denominator) and you get your whole number/cancel the fraction.

[Cynthia_L_2C]

Multiply by the denominator! In a case where there's multiple fractions, it works to multiply by a shared multiple!

[Litsa Dimit 1D]

When you balance equations you must multiply in order to get a whole number because coefficients cannot contain fractions!

[Jordyn Lee 1J]

Hi!
You should multiply by the denominator in order to get rid of the fraction in the chemical equation. For example, if the coefficient is 13/2, multiply the entire equation by 2.

[Marleena]

Since there is a fraction in the balanced equation, to cancel that out we would need to multiply by the denominator. We multiply this to each part of the equation to make sure it stays balanced.

[Srikar_Chintala_1E]

You should multiply the fraction by the denominator. If you had 3/4, you should multiply by 4 to just get 3! Make sure to multiply everything by this constant too. However, if there are multiple fractions, make sure to use the LCM (generally not needed).

[Monse Mata 3D]

Hey! You should multiply by the denominator to cancel out the fraction if there's only one fraction or if the fractions have the same denominator. Hope this helps :)

[Prithvi Raj 3E]

As others have said, you should multiply the equations by the denominator. In a chemical equation, you can only have whole numbers, so multiply by the denominator ensures that all the numbers are whole.

[Milli Zunich 3I]

Usually I try to avoid fractions when I can, but yes multiplying by the denominator should help.

[Chris Van 2J]

You would multiply all the stoichiometric coefficients by the denominator!

[Katryn Heine 3A]

You'd multiply by the denominator to simply eliminate the fraction. It's best to only have whole numbers in a balance equation.

[davis sandberg 2H]

Yes, you need to cancel the fraction.

[haryn Shin 1H]

You multiplay the whole equation with the denominator in order to get whole numbers in the equation. Hope this helps!

[Olivia Ghorai 1J]

Hello,

Since the stoichiometric coefficients must be whole numbers, you need to multiply the coefficients until they are all whole numbers

[Parinita Jithendra 2A]

you should multiply the subscripts until you get a whole number, simply because it would be difficult to have half a element or whatever the fraction would be

[Molly Smith 1J]

Multiple through in order to get rid of the fraction (multiple by denominator). Balanced equations must have whole number coefficients only.

[Jessica Li 1G]

You should multiply by the denominator to cancel out the fraction because that way all coefficients will be whole numbers

[Rebecca Preusch 2C]

Multiply by the denominator in order to get a whole number.

[Kirsten Yu 2K]

I believe the simplest solution is to multiply by the denominator!

[205819952]

You should multiply by the denominator to cancel out the fraction

[Ryan Lafferty 1L]

You should multiply by the denominator, as we don't want fractions as our coefficients.