Question

A student wrote a chemical equation as shown.

2H2S + 3O2 → H2O + SO2

What should the student do to balance the equation?
Add a coefficient 4 before H2O and a 2 before SO2.
Add a coefficient 2 before H2O and a 4 before SO2.
Add a coefficient 5 before H2O and a 4 before SO2.
Add a coefficient 2 before H2O and a 2 before SO2.

Answer 1

A. Add a coefficient 4 before h2o and add a 2 before so2

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Answer : The correct option is, Add a coefficient 2 before
`H_2O` and a 2 before
`SO_2`.

Explanation :

Balanced chemical reaction : It is defined as the reaction in which the number of atoms of individual elements present on reactant side must be equal to the product side.

If the amount of atoms of each type on the left and right sides of a reaction differs then to balance the equation by adding coefficient in the front of the elements or molecule or compound in the chemical equation.

The coefficient tell us about that how many molecules or atoms present in the chemical equation.

The given chemical reaction is,

`2H_2S+3O_2\rightarrow H_2O+SO_2`

This reaction is an unbalanced chemical reaction because in this reaction number of hydrogen, sulfur and oxygen atoms are not balanced.

In order to balance the chemical equation, the coefficient '2' is put before the
`H_2O` and
`SO_2` and we get the balanced chemical equation.

The balanced chemical reaction will be,

`2H_2S+3O_2\rightarrow 2H_2O+2SO_2`