How to balance a chemical equation that has brackets?

Ca(OH)2 + HNO3 --- CA(NO3)2 + H20It is the brackets that are confusing me, do they mean there are two calciums?Help it greatly appreciated

Answer:

Ca(OH)2 means that you have one calcium atom with two hydroxyl (OH) groups. Ca(NO3)2 means that you have one calcium atom with two nitrate (NO3) groups. In general, the subscript on the bracket only refers to the group in the bracket. Hope that clears things up!

The subscript number outside the brackets only applies to what is in the brackets. So, Ca(OH)2 means there is one Ca ion bonded with two OH ions. Therefore in Ca(OH)2 there is one Ca atom, two oxygen atoms, and two hydrogen atoms. In balancing the equation you get: Ca(OH)2 + 2HNO3 --Ca(NO3)2 + 2H2O General tip: When balancing equations, ignoring oxygen until the end can make it easier.

Ca(OH)2 + 2HNO3 ---Ca(NO3)2 + 2H2O