Write a balanced chemical equation of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) reacting with platinum chloride.
The balanced chemical equation of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) reacting with platinum chloride is as follows:
2 NaBH4 + PtCl4 → 2 NaCl + Pt + 4 H2 + 4 B
To write a balanced chemical equation, we need to know the reactants and products of the given reaction.
The reactants are sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and platinum chloride (PtCl4). The products formed in this reaction will be sodium chloride (NaCl), platinum (Pt), and borane (BH3).
Now, let's balance the equation step by step.
First, let's balance the platinum atoms. Since there is 1 platinum atom in PtCl4 on the left side, we need 1 Pt on the right side:
PtCl4 + ____ → Pt + ____
Now let's balance the chlorine atoms. There are 4 chlorine atoms in PtCl4 on the left side, so we need 4 Cl atoms on the right side:
PtCl4 + ____ → Pt + 4 Cl
Next, let's balance the sodium atoms. There are no sodium atoms on the left side, so we need to add 1 Na on the right side:
PtCl4 + ____ → Pt + 4 Cl + Na
Now, let's balance the boron and hydrogen atoms. There is 1 boron atom and 4 hydrogen atoms in NaBH4 on the left side. So, we need 1 boron atom and 4 hydrogen atoms on the right side. To balance the hydrogen atoms, we also need to add 2 water molecules (H2O) on the right side:
PtCl4 + NaBH4 → Pt + 4 Cl + Na + ____ + ____
Finally, we have balanced the equation. The complete balanced chemical equation of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) reacting with platinum chloride is:
PtCl4 + 3 NaBH4 → Pt + 4 Cl + Na + 3 H2O