Write a balanced equation from the following statement:
Zinc metal and sulfuric acid are combined to form hydrogen gas and zinc sulfate
(Enter the formulas in the order they are listed. Do not leave a space between the coefficient and the formula)
Zn + H2SO4 ==> H2 + ZnSO4
The equation is balanced as is.
If you want the phases, it looks like this.
Zn(s) + H2SO4(l) ==> H2(g) + ZnSO4(aq) with some uncertainty about the phase of H2SO4. Most H2SO4 out of the bottle has a little water in it and some may prefer to call it H2SO4(aq).
To write a balanced equation from the given statement, we need to identify the formulas of the reactants and products and balance the equation by ensuring that the number of atoms on both sides of the equation is equal.
The given statement tells us that zinc metal (Zn) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) react to form hydrogen gas (H2) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4).
The balanced equation is:
Zn + H2SO4 → H2 + ZnSO4
Here's how we balance the equation:
1. Start by balancing the most complex molecule or polyatomic ion. In this case, it's sulfuric acid (H2SO4). Make sure that the sulfur (S) and oxygen (O) atoms are balanced.
H2SO4
2. To balance the sulfur, we need a coefficient of 1 in front of ZnSO4:
Zn + H2SO4 → H2 + ZnSO4
3. Next, balance the oxygen. There are four oxygen atoms on the right side of the equation (two in H2O and two in ZnSO4) and four oxygen atoms on the left side (two in H2SO4 and two in ZnO). To balance the oxygen, place a coefficient of 2 in front of H2O:
Zn + H2SO4 → H2 + ZnSO4
4. Finally, balance the hydrogen atoms. There are two hydrogen atoms on the left side of the equation and two on the right side. The equation is now balanced:
Zn + H2SO4 → H2 + ZnSO4
The balanced equation is: Zn + H2SO4 → H2 + ZnSO4.