Please could someone advise me on how to write a balanced equation for the breakdown off H2SeO3.
The solution is dissolved in water and conducts electricity. I know the charged ion present is H+ I am struggling to work it out and indentify the other ion formed, other than it is a negative charge. I would be very grateful if someone could help me out.
H2SeO3 + 2H2O ==> 2H3O^+ + SeO3^-2 OR
if you want to omit the water.
H2SeO3 (aq) ==> 2H+(aq) + SeO3=(aq)
I hope this looks ok.
Thank you very much for your time DrBob222.
I attempted it myself and came out with
the same thing, just lacked the confidence to believe I had it right, at least I have it confirmed.
Why not use B6 instead of cheating?
To write a balanced equation for the breakdown of H2SeO3, it's important to understand the ions that are present in the solution. From your description, you correctly identified the presence of H+ ions.
The breakdown of H2SeO3 can be represented as follows:
H2SeO3 (aq) → 2H+ (aq) + SeO3^2- (aq)
In this equation, (aq) represents that the species is dissolved in water. It is also important to note the charges associated with the ions. The H+ ion is positively charged, while the SeO3^2- ion carries a 2- negative charge.
The balanced equation shows that one molecule of H2SeO3 breaks down into two H+ ions and one SeO3^2- ion.
If you are specifically interested in the conductivity of the solution, it is worth noting that the formation of H+ ions indicates the presence of an acid, as they are responsible for the conductivity. The SeO3^2- ion, on the other hand, is the negative ion formed during the breakdown.
I hope this explanation helps! If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.