Please help me balance this equation: I just can't get it right. Do you have any strategy you use to solve such equation balancing if so please help me.
Ba(ClO3)2(aq)+ Na3PO4(aq)-> Ba3(PO4)2(s)+NaClO3(aq)
Thanks alot!!:)
I will omit the aq in order to save space.
Ba(ClO3)2 + Na3PO4-> Ba3(PO4)2(s)+NaClO3
There are trial and error; however, with a little practice you can do these easily. Here is what I do.
I look on the right and see I MUST hae 3Ba and 2 PO4 on the left so I place a 3 for Ba(ClO3)2 and a 2 for Na3PO4.
3Ba(ClO3)2 + 2Na3PO4-> Ba3(PO4)2(s)+NaClO3
That take care of Ba(ClO3)2, Na3PO4, and Ba3(PO4)2 which leaves only NaClO3. I have 6 Na on the left so I place a 6 for NaClO3. Then I check to see if I have 6 ClO3 on the left and I do. The full equation then is
3Ba(ClO3)2 + 2Na3PO4-> Ba3(PO4)2(s)+6NaClO3
To balance this equation, we need to make sure that the number of each type of atom is the same on both sides of the equation. Here's a step-by-step strategy to help you balance it:
1. Start by counting the number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation.
On the left side:
- Ba: 1
- Cl: 2
- O: 6
- Na: 3
- P: 1
On the right side:
- Ba: 3
- Cl: 2
- O: 12
- Na: 1
- P: 2
2. Begin by balancing the elements that appear in only one compound on each side of the equation. In this case, we can start with Ba and Na.
- To balance Ba, multiply Ba(ClO3)2 by 3:
Ba(ClO3)2(aq) + Na3PO4(aq) -> 3Ba(ClO3)2(aq) + Na3PO4(aq)
- To balance Na, multiply NaClO3 by 3:
Ba(ClO3)2(aq) + 3Na3PO4(aq) -> 3Ba(ClO3)2(aq) + 3NaClO3(aq)
3. Now, let's balance Cl. On the right side, there are already 6 Cl atoms, so we need to balance the left side accordingly. Multiply Ba(ClO3)2 by 2:
2Ba(ClO3)2(aq) + 3Na3PO4(aq) -> 3Ba(ClO3)2(aq) + 3NaClO3(aq)
4. Count the number of atoms for each element in the equation once again to identify any remaining imbalances:
On the left side:
- Ba: 2
- Cl: 4
- O: 24
- Na: 9
- P: 3
On the right side:
- Ba: 3
- Cl: 6
- O: 36
- Na: 3
- P: 6
5. Finally, balance the number of P atoms. Multiply Na3PO4 by 2:
2Ba(ClO3)2(aq) + 3Na3PO4(aq) -> 3Ba(ClO3)2(aq) + 6NaClO3(aq)
Now, the equation is balanced with equal numbers of atoms for each element on both sides:
2 Ba(ClO3)2(aq) + 3 Na3PO4(aq) -> 3 Ba(ClO3)2(aq) + 6 NaClO3(aq)