How do I write a balance chemical equations?
solid tin(ii) oxide with aqueous hydrogen fluoride to produce aqueous tin(ii) fluoride and water.
SnF2(s)+H2(g)
The question tells you how to do it.
SnO(s) +2HF(aq) ==> SnF2 + H2O
To balance the chemical equation for the reaction between solid tin(II) oxide and aqueous hydrogen fluoride to produce aqueous tin(II) fluoride and water, follow these steps:
Step 1: Write down the unbalanced equation:
SnO(s) + HF(aq) → SnF₂(aq) + H₂O(l)
Step 2: Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.
On the left side:
Sn: 1
O: 1
On the right side:
Sn: 1
F: 2
H: 2
O: 1
Step 3: Start by balancing the elements that appear in the fewest compounds.
Let's begin with the oxygen (O) atoms:
Since we have one O atom on the left side and one O atom on the right side, oxygen is already balanced.
Now, let's balance the fluorine (F) atoms:
We have one F atom on the left side and two F atoms on the right side, so we need to add a coefficient in front of HF to balance the F atoms.
SnO(s) + HF(aq) → SnF₂(aq) + H₂O(l)
Step 4: Balance the remaining elements.
Next, balance the tin (Sn) atoms:
We have one Sn atom on both sides, so tin (Sn) is already balanced.
Finally, balance the hydrogen (H) atoms:
We have two H atoms on the right side, so we need to add a coefficient in front of H₂O to balance the H atoms.
SnO(s) + 2HF(aq) → SnF₂(aq) + H₂O(l)
Step 5: Check if all the elements are balanced.
On the left side:
Sn: 1
O: 1
F: 2
H: 2
On the right side:
Sn: 1
F: 2
H: 2
O: 1
All the elements are balanced now.
The balanced equation is:
SnO(s) + 2HF(aq) → SnF₂(aq) + H₂O(l)
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. Let's balance the equation:
1. Start by writing down the unbalanced equation:
SnF2(s) + H2(g) → SnF2(aq) + H2O(l)
2. Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.
On the reactant side, we have:
- 1 Sn atom
- 2 F atoms
- 2 H atoms
On the product side, we have:
- 1 Sn atom
- 2 F atoms
- 2 H atoms
- 1 O atom
3. Begin balancing the equation by adjusting the coefficients in front of each compound. Start with elements that appear in only one compound on each side.
Let's balance the fluorine (F) atoms first:
SnF2(s) + H2(g) → SnF2(aq) + H2O(l)
We have 2 F atoms on each side, so the F atoms are balanced.
4. Next, balance the other elements present. Let's balance Hydrogen (H):
SnF2(s) + 2H2(g) → SnF2(aq) + 2H2O(l)
Now we have 4 H atoms on each side, so the H atoms are balanced.
5. Finally, let's balance the Tin (Sn) and Oxygen (O) atoms:
We have 1 Sn atom on each side, so the Sn atoms are balanced. However, we have 1 O atom on the product side but none on the reactant side.
To balance the O atom, we can add a coefficient in front of the water (H2O):
SnF2(s) + 2H2(g) → SnF2(aq) + 2H2O(l)
Now, the equation is balanced, and we have the correct stoichiometric coefficients for each substance according to the law of conservation of mass.
Final balanced equation:
SnF2(s) + 2H2(g) → SnF2(aq) + 2H2O(l)