Question

fill in the blanks to balance this chemical reaction. ____ p + __ o2 → ____ p2o5

Explanation:

Step1: Balance oxygen atoms

On the right - hand side, in \(P_2O_5\), the number of oxygen atoms is \(5\). On the left - hand side, in \(O_2\), the number of oxygen atoms is \(2\). The least common multiple of \(2\) and \(5\) is \(10\). So we put a coefficient of \(5\) in front of \(O_2\) (\(5O_2\)) and a coefficient of \(2\) in front of \(P_2O_5\) (\(2P_2O_5\)).

Step2: Balance phosphorus atoms

After balancing oxygen, we now balance phosphorus. In \(2P_2O_5\), the number of phosphorus atoms is \(4\). So we put a coefficient of \(4\) in front of \(P\) (\(4P\)).

Answer:

\(4P + 5O_2
ightarrow2P_2O_5\)