A Visual Way to Teach Balancing Chemical Charges

​If your students just aren’t getting the more mathematical approach (aka, crossing charges), maybe try a different tactic.
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Illustrate for them WHY we balance charges.

#1 Show Them a Simple Molecule First

Put a simple chemical compound up that has a +1 to -1 charge ratio. Also, make sure it doesn’t contain a polyatomic ion. Something like NaCl, KCl, or NaF.

Write the symbols out, but also draw the elements as circles and write the charge inside the circle.
Ask them if (1+) +(1-) =0.

The students should say yes.

#2 Illustrate the Charge Discrepancy 

Next put up two elements that do not have the same charge. Use Mg and F.

Draw Mg with the charge inside the circle and draw F with the charge inside the circle.

Ask your students if (2+) + (1-) = 0

(hint: It doesn’t)

#3 Ask Students How to Fix the Overall Charge

Ask your students how to fix the previous equation.

(2+) + (1-) = 0

Lead students to the idea that they would need two (-1) charges to balance those charges.
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Show them that because of that, the formula for MgF would have to be MgF2, because it needs two negative 1 charges.

#4 Repeat with Two New Elements

I like to use lots of different example types when I am teaching this.

This last example showed what happens when the negative charge is too small. Show students an example or two where the positive charge is too small.
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Something like Na2O. 

#5 Bonus Throw in a Polyatomic Ion

Once you feel like your students have the hang of it, I would say do at least 3-4 in-class problems, then add in the polyatomic ions(blog post!).

When you add in the polyatomic ions, start small like NaOH. Then move to something like Na3PO4. Make sure that the last example you show is something like Mg3(PO4)2. That way students are okay with polyatomic ions, but you aren’t throwing them in the deep end right away.

Of course there are many ways to teach balancing charges, or crossing charges, in teaching students to write chemical formulas. I hope this helped you consider a new way to do things if you are looking to change things up a bit.

You can check out these related worksheets in my TpT store, CoScine.

• Balancing Chemical Charges (The first page doesn't have any polyatomic ion problems, but page 2 and 3 do!)
• Crossing Charges
• 3D Molecule Review
• Learn the Charges of Polyatomic Ions