Consider the following chemical equation:
NH3 + O2 → NO + H2O
The equation is unbalanced. Which of the following is the correct balanced equation?
A.
NH3 + 2O2 → NO + 6H2O
B.
4NH3 + 5O2 → 4NO + H2O
C.
4NH3 + 5O2 → 4NO + 6H2O
D.
NH3 + 5O2 → NO + 6H2O
C.
4NH3 + 5O2 → 4NO + 6H2O
To balance the chemical equation NH3 + O2 → NO + H2O, we need to ensure that the number of each type of atom is the same on both sides of the equation.
Let's examine each option:
A. NH3 + 2O2 → NO + 6H2O
The number of hydrogen atoms is balanced (3 on both sides), but the number of oxygen atoms is not balanced (4 on the left, 7 on the right).
B. 4NH3 + 5O2 → 4NO + H2O
The number of nitrogen atoms is balanced (4 on both sides), but the number of hydrogen and oxygen atoms is not balanced.
C. 4NH3 + 5O2 → 4NO + 6H2O
This option balances both the nitrogen (4 on both sides) and hydrogen (12 on both sides) atoms. It also balances the oxygen atoms (10 on both sides).
D. NH3 + 5O2 → NO + 6H2O
In this option, the nitrogen and oxygen atoms are not balanced.
Therefore, the correct balanced equation is C. 4NH3 + 5O2 → 4NO + 6H2O.
To balance a chemical equation, you need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. Here's how to balance this chemical equation:
1. Start by counting the number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation.
NH3: 1 nitrogen, 3 hydrogen
O2: 2 oxygen
NO: 1 nitrogen, 1 oxygen
H2O: 2 hydrogen, 1 oxygen
2. Begin by balancing the elements that appear in the fewest compounds. In this case, nitrogen appears in only two compounds (NH3 and NO).
3. To balance nitrogen, compare the number of nitrogen atoms on each side of the equation. The left side has 1 nitrogen atom, while the right side has 1 nitrogen atom. The nitrogen is already balanced.
4. Next, balance the remaining elements. Begin by balancing oxygen.
5. Oxygen appears in three compounds (O2, NO, and H2O). On the left side, there are 2 oxygen atoms from O2, while on the right side, there is only 1 oxygen atom from NO. Therefore, to balance oxygen, you need to add additional O2 to the right side.
6. By adding O2 to the right side, the number of oxygen atoms becomes 5, while the number of hydrogen atoms becomes 6 from the H2O.
NH3 + 5O2 → NO + 6H2O
Therefore, the correct balanced equation is option D: NH3 + 5O2 → NO + 6H2O.