Question

when the following molecular equation is balanced using the smallest possible integer coefficients, the values of these coefficients are: diphosphorus pentoxide (s) + water (l) → phosphoric acid (aq)

Explanation:

Step1: Write the unbalanced equation

The un - balanced chemical equation is \(P_{2}O_{5}(s)+H_{2}O(l)\to H_{3}PO_{4}(aq)\)

Step2: Balance the phosphorus atoms

There are 2 phosphorus atoms in \(P_{2}O_{5}\). So, we put a coefficient of 2 in front of \(H_{3}PO_{4}\). The equation becomes \(P_{2}O_{5}(s)+H_{2}O(l)\to2H_{3}PO_{4}(aq)\)

Step3: Balance the oxygen atoms

On the right - hand side, in \(2H_{3}PO_{4}\), the number of oxygen atoms is \(2\times4 = 8\). In \(P_{2}O_{5}\), the number of oxygen atoms is 5. So, the number of oxygen atoms from water should be \(8 - 5=3\).

Step4: Balance the hydrogen atoms

On the right - hand side, in \(2H_{3}PO_{4}\), the number of hydrogen atoms is \(2\times3 = 6\). If we put a coefficient of 3 in front of \(H_{2}O\), the number of hydrogen atoms from water is \(3\times2 = 6\)

The balanced equation is \(P_{2}O_{5}(s)+3H_{2}O(l)\to2H_{3}PO_{4}(aq)\)

Answer:

1, 3, 2