Question

Consider the following chemical equation:

NH3 + O2 → NO + H2O

The equation is unbalanced. Which of the following is the correct balanced equation?

Answer 1

4NH3+5O2 - 4NO+6H2O
balace according to other side

Answer 2

Answer:
`4NH_3+5O_2\rightarrow 4NO+6H_2O`

Explanation: The given equation is:

`NH_3+O_2\rightarrow NO+H_2O`

Let's balance all the atoms one by one:

Both sides have equal number of N atoms so let's move to the next atom that is H.

There are three H on left side and two H atoms on right side. To balance H, we need to multiply left side by 2 and right side by 3. On doing this, the equation would look as:

`2NH_3+O_2\rightarrow NO+3H_2O`

Now, left side has two N where as right side has only one N. So, to balance this for N, we need to multiply right side(NO) by 2.

`2NH_3+O_2\rightarrow 2NO+3H_2O`

Above equation has two oxygen on left side and five oxygen on right side. To make this balance we need to multiply left side oxygen by 2.5.

`2NH_3+2.5O_2\rightarrow 2NO+3H_2O`

Since whole numbers are used as coefficients for balancing equations, let's multiply the whole equation by 2.

`4NH_3+5O_2\rightarrow 4NO+6H_2O`

So, the finally balanced equation is
`4NH_3+5O_2\rightarrow 4NO+6H_2O` .