Is this how you write a skeleton equation i don't understand this
Lithium(s)+gold(III)chloride(aq)= Lithium chloride(aq)+gold(s)
iron(s)+tin(IV)nitrate(aq)= Iron (III) nitrate(aq)+tin (s)
I will do one.
Fe(s)+Sn(NO3)4 (aq) --> Fe(NO3)3 (aq)+ Sn (s)
http://www.fordhamprep.org/gcurran/sho/sho/lessons/lesson53.htm
Yes, those are examples of skeleton equations. Skeleton equations are unbalanced chemical equations that only show the reactants and products, without indicating the number of atoms or molecules involved.
To balance a skeleton equation, you need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to balance the given skeleton equations:
1. Start by counting the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.
For the first equation:
Reactants:
- Lithium: 1 atom
- Gold: 1 atom
- Chlorine: 3 atoms
Products:
- Lithium: 1 atom
- Chlorine: 1 atom
- Gold: 1 atom
For the second equation:
Reactants:
- Iron: 1 atom
- Tin: 1 atom
- Nitrogen: 2 atoms
- Oxygen: 6 atoms
Products:
- Iron: 1 atom
- Nitrogen: 2 atoms
- Oxygen: 6 atoms
- Tin: 1 atom
2. Identify the elements that are unbalanced.
In the first equation, chlorine is unbalanced, as there are 3 chlorine atoms on the left side, but only 1 on the right side.
In the second equation, nitrogen and oxygen are unbalanced, as there are 2 nitrogen atoms and 6 oxygen atoms on the left side, but only 2 nitrogen atoms and 6 oxygen atoms on the right side.
3. Use coefficients to balance the equation.
For the first equation, you can balance the chlorine atoms by placing a coefficient of 3 in front of lithium chloride:
2 Li (s) + 3 AuCl3 (aq) → 2 LiCl (aq) + 3 Au (s)
For the second equation, you can balance the nitrogen and oxygen atoms by placing a coefficient of 3 in front of iron (III) nitrate and a coefficient of 2 in front of tin:
2 Fe (s) + 3 Sn(NO3)4 (aq) → 3 Fe(NO3)3 (aq) + 4 Sn (s)
These balanced equations show that for every 2 atoms of lithium, 3 molecules of gold (III) chloride are required, resulting in the formation of 2 molecules of lithium chloride and 3 atoms of gold. Similarly, for every 2 atoms of iron, 3 molecules of tin (IV) nitrate are required, resulting in the formation of 3 molecules of iron (III) nitrate and 4 atoms of tin.
Remember, balancing chemical equations involves adjusting coefficients, not subscripts, as changing subscripts would represent different compounds.