Lexi is balancing equations. She is finding one equation to be very difficult to balance. Which explains how to balance the equation [tex]ZnSO _4+ LbCO _2+ ZnCO _3+ Li _2 SO _4[/tex]?
A. One reactant and one product needs the coefficient 2.
B. The products both need a 3 coefficient.
C. The reactants both need a 2 coefficient.
D. Atoms in the equation are mostly in balance.
Answer (1)
The original chemical equation has a typo, and with the given constraints (reactants with coefficient 2, products with coefficient 3), it's impossible to balance the equation. The statement that atoms are mostly in balance is incorrect.
Explanation
Analyzing the Unbalanced Equation Let's analyze the chemical equation and the given constraints to balance it correctly. The unbalanced equation is: Z n S O 4 + L b C O 2 → Z n C O 3 + L i 2 S O 4
Applying Given Coefficients We are given that the balanced equation should have the form: 2 Z n S O 4 + 2 L b C O 2 → 3 Z n C O 3 + 3 L i 2 S O 4
Counting Atoms Now, let's count the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation with the given coefficients:
Left Side (Reactants):
Zn: 2
S: 2
O: 8 + 2 = 10
Lb: 2
C: 2
Li: 0
Right Side (Products):
Zn: 3
S: 3
O: 9 + 12 = 21
Lb: 0
C: 3
Li: 6
It's clear that the equation is not balanced with these coefficients.
Correcting the Typo and Recounting The original equation provided in the problem statement has a typo. It should be: Z n S O 4 + L i 2 C O 3 → Z n C O 3 + L i 2 S O 4
With the given constraints, the balanced equation would be: 2 Z n S O 4 + 3 L i 2 C O 3 → 2 Z n C O 3 + 3 L i 2 S O 4
Let's count the atoms again:
Left Side (Reactants):
Zn: 2
S: 2
O: 8 + 9 = 17
Li: 6
C: 3
Right Side (Products):
Zn: 2
S: 3
O: 6 + 12 = 18
Li: 6
C: 2
This is still not balanced.
Balancing the Corrected Equation Let's assume the equation is: Z n S O 4 + L i 2 C O 3 → Z n C O 3 + L i 2 S O 4
And we want to balance it. The balanced equation is: Z n S O 4 + L i 2 C O 3 → Z n C O 3 + L i 2 S O 4
In this case, no coefficients are needed because the equation is already balanced.
Analyzing with Given Coefficients However, if we follow the problem's constraints that the products both have a coefficient of 3 and the reactants both have a coefficient of 2, and assuming the correct equation is: Z n S O 4 + L i 2 C O 3 → Z n C O 3 + L i 2 S O 4
Then the equation with the given coefficients is: 2 Z n S O 4 + 2 L i 2 C O 3 → 3 Z n C O 3 + 3 L i 2 S O 4
Counting the atoms:
Left Side (Reactants):
Zn: 2
S: 2
O: 8 + 6 = 14
Li: 4
C: 2
Right Side (Products):
Zn: 3
S: 3
O: 9 + 12 = 21
Li: 6
C: 3
This is not balanced.
Conclusion Based on the constraints and the original equation with the likely typo, it's impossible to balance the equation with the given constraints. The atoms are mostly in balance is incorrect.
Examples
Balancing chemical equations is crucial in various fields, such as environmental science, to understand and predict the outcomes of chemical reactions in pollution control. For example, when designing a system to remove pollutants from industrial wastewater, it's essential to know the exact amounts of chemicals needed to neutralize or precipitate the pollutants. Accurate balancing ensures that the treatment process is efficient and doesn't create additional environmental problems. This skill is also fundamental in developing new materials and optimizing chemical processes in manufacturing.
