Calcium and elemental sulfur react to form calcium sulfide. Balance the reaction. What is the sum of coefficients
Ca + S = CaS
To balance the reaction between calcium and elemental sulfur to form calcium sulfide, we need to ensure that the number of each type of atom is the same on both sides of the equation. Here's how you can balance the equation step-by-step:
1. Write the unbalanced equation: Ca + S → CaS
2. Count the number of atoms on each side of the equation:
On the left side (Reactants): 1 Ca and 1 S
On the right side (Product): 1 Ca and 1 S
3. Start by balancing the most complex atoms that appear in only one compound first, which in this case is sulfur (S).
Add a coefficient of 3 in front of the sulfur (S) on the left side to balance the sulfur atoms: Ca + 3S → CaS
4. Now, let's balance the calcium (Ca) atoms. We currently have 1 Ca atom on the left side, and 1 Ca atom on the right side. We can balance it by adding a coefficient of 1 in front of the calcium (Ca) on the right side:
Ca + 3S → CaS
5. The final balanced equation is: Ca + 3S → CaS
Now, to find the sum of the coefficients, simply add up the coefficients that appear in front of each compound in the balanced equation.
In this case, the sum of the coefficients is 1 + 3 + 1 = 5.
Therefore, the sum of the coefficients is 5.