Question

balance the chemical equation by selecting the appropriate coefficient for each substance. enter 1 if the coefficient is 1. do not leave it blank. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. zns(s) + o₂(g) → zno(s) + so₂(g)

Explanation:

Step1: Balance Zn and S

$$\text{ZnS}(s)+\text{O}_2(g) ightarrow\text{ZnO}(s)+\text{SO}_2(g)$$

There is 1 Zn and 1 S on the left. On the right, there is 1 Zn in ZnO and 1 S in SO₂. If we put a coefficient of 2 in front of ZnS, we have 2 Zn and 2 S on the left. Then we put 2 in front of ZnO (for Zn balance) and 2 in front of SO₂ (for S balance). The equation becomes:

$$2\text{ZnS}(s)+\text{O}_2(g) ightarrow2\text{ZnO}(s)+2\text{SO}_2(g)$$

Step2: Balance O

On the right - hand side, in 2ZnO, there are \(2\times1 = 2\) O atoms from ZnO, and in 2SO₂, there are \(2\times2=4\) O atoms from SO₂. So in total, there are \(2 + 4=6\) O atoms on the right. On the left - hand side, O₂ has 2 O atoms. To balance the O atoms, we put a coefficient of 3 in front of O₂ (since \(3\times2 = 6\) O atoms).

Answer:

ZnS: 2, O₂: 3, ZnO: 2, SO₂: 2