Question

write a balanced chemical equation based on the following description: sulfur dioxide gas reacts with solid potassium telluride to produce sulfur ditelluride gas and solid potassium oxide so₂(g) + k₂te(s) →

Explanation:

Step1: Write the unbalanced equation

The products are \(S_2Te_2(g)\) and \(K_2O(s)\). So the un - balanced equation is \(SO_2(g)+K_2Te(s)
ightarrow S_2Te_2(g)+K_2O(s)\)

Step2: Balance the sulfur atoms

On the left - hand side, there is 1 \(S\) atom (in \(SO_2\)), and on the right - hand side, there are 2 \(S\) atoms (in \(S_2Te_2\)). So we put a coefficient of 2 in front of \(SO_2\): \(2SO_2(g)+K_2Te(s)
ightarrow S_2Te_2(g)+K_2O(s)\)

Step3: Balance the oxygen atoms

On the left - hand side, there are 4 \(O\) atoms (from \(2SO_2\)), and on the right - hand side, there is 1 \(O\) atom (in \(K_2O\)). So we put a coefficient of 4 in front of \(K_2O\): \(2SO_2(g)+K_2Te(s)
ightarrow S_2Te_2(g)+4K_2O(s)\)

Step4: Balance the potassium atoms

On the right - hand side, there are 8 \(K\) atoms (from \(4K_2O\)), and on the left - hand side, there are 2 \(K\) atoms (from \(K_2Te\)). So we put a coefficient of 4 in front of \(K_2Te\): \(2SO_2(g)+4K_2Te(s)
ightarrow S_2Te_2(g)+4K_2O(s)\)

Step5: Balance the tellurium atoms

On the left - hand side, there are 4 \(Te\) atoms (from \(4K_2Te\)), and on the right - hand side, there are 2 \(Te\) atoms (in \(S_2Te_2\)). So we put a coefficient of 2 in front of \(S_2Te_2\): \(2SO_2(g)+4K_2Te(s)
ightarrow 2S_2Te_2(g)+4K_2O(s)\)

Answer:

\(2SO_2(g)+4K_2Te(s)
ightarrow 2S_2Te_2(g)+4K_2O(s)\)