Question #bed9f
1 Answer
Jun 18, 2015
Explanation:
The method I find useful when it comes to balancing a chemical equation is to draw a chart corresponding to the number of moles: (Split compounds into one unit of its own but, for polyatomic count them as one whole unit)
Unbalanced chemical equation:
#"Zn " + " HCl" -> "ZnCl"_2 + "H"_2#
The reason you need to balance a chemical equation is because energy is conserved throughout the chemical process.
Reactant side:
#"Zn"= 1# #"H" =1# #"Cl" = 1#
Product side:
#"Zn" = 1 # #"H" = 2# #"Cl" = 2#
You need two hydrogens and two chlorines on the left and right sides, so multiply
Reactant side:
#"Zn"= 1# #"H" =1 xx 2 = "2 moles of H"# #"Cl" = 1 xx 2 = "2 moles of Cl"#
Product side:
#"Zn" = 1 # #"H" = 2# #"Cl" = 2#
The balanced chemical equation:
#"Zn" + 2"HCl" -> "ZnCl"_2 + "H"_2 #
