Answer:
4 PH₃ + 8 O₂ -----> P₄O₁₀ + 6 H₂O
Step-by-step explanation:
An equation is balanced when there is an equal amount of each element on both sides of a chemical reaction. Remember, the reactants are the molecules that lie on the left of the reaction arrow and the products are the molecules that lie on the right.
The unbalanced equation:
PH₃ + O₂ -----> P₄O₁₀ + H₂O
Reactants: 1 phosphorus, 3 hydrogen, 2 oxygen
Products: 4 phosphorus, 2 hydrogen, 11 oxygen
As you can see, there is an unequal amount of each element. To balance the equation, we can add coefficients to change the quantity of particular molecules. By doing this, you subsequently change the amount of the elements.
The balanced equation:
4 PH₃ + 8 O₂ -----> P₄O₁₀ + 6 H₂O
Reactants: 4 phosphorus, 12 hydrogen, 16 oxygen
Products: 4 phosphorus, 12 hydrogen, 16 oxygen
****P₄O₁₀ technically has a coefficient of 1