How do you balance Na + MgF_2 -> NaF + MgNa+MgF2NaF+Mg?

1 Answer
Dec 7, 2015

2Na+MgF_2 rarr 2NaF + Mg2Na+MgF22NaF+Mg

Explanation:

The 22 F's on the left side (MgF_color(red)(2)MgF2) imply the that right side must have 22 F's (or a multiple of 22).

The only F on the right side is in NaF
so to have 22 F's on the right side we will need 22 NaF's.
color(white)("XXX")color(red)(2NaF)+MgXXX2NaF+Mg

This gives us 22 Na's on the right side (color(blue)(2Na)F2NaF)
which implies we will need 22 Na's on the left side.
color(white)("XXX")color(blue)(2)Na + MgF_2rarr color(blue)(2Na)F + MgXXX2Na+MgF22NaF+Mg

At this point the transformation becomes balanced:
On both sides we have:

2 Na2Na's
1 Mg1Mg, and
2 F2F's