Question

question 4
balance the equation by entering the correct numeric coefficient. if the coefficient is one, type in 1.
_zns (s) + _o₂ (g) → _zno (s) + _so₂ (g)

Explanation:

Step1: Balance sulfur atoms

There is 1 sulfur atom on the left - hand side (in \(ZnS\)) and 1 sulfur atom on the right - hand side (in \(SO_{2}\)). So, the sulfur atoms are already balanced.

Step2: Balance zinc atoms

There is 1 zinc atom on the left - hand side (in \(ZnS\)) and 1 zinc atom on the right - hand side (in \(ZnO\)). So, the zinc atoms are already balanced.

Step3: Balance oxygen atoms

Let the coefficient of \(ZnS\) be \(a = 2\), \(O_{2}\) be \(b\), \(ZnO\) be \(c = 2\) and \(SO_{2}\) be \(d = 2\).
The un - balanced equation for oxygen: In \(O_{2}\) (left - hand side) and \(ZnO\) and \(SO_{2}\) (right - hand side).
The number of oxygen atoms on the left - hand side is \(2b\).
The number of oxygen atoms on the right - hand side: In \(ZnO\) (1 oxygen per formula unit) and \(SO_{2}\) (2 oxygen per formula unit). So, the total number of oxygen atoms on the right - hand side is \(c + 2d\).
Substituting \(c = 2\) and \(d = 2\), we get \(2+2\times2=6\).
If \(2b = 6\), then \(b = 3\).

The balanced chemical equation is \(2ZnS(s)+3O_{2}(g)\to2ZnO(s)+2SO_{2}(g)\)

Answer:

The coefficients for \(ZnS\), \(O_{2}\), \(ZnO\) and \(SO_{2}\) are \(2\), \(3\), \(2\) and \(2\) respectively.