Question

Balance the chemical equation below using the smallest possible whole number stoichiometric coefficients.

P4(s)+NaOH(aq)+H2O(l)➪
PH3(g)+Na2HPO3(aq)

Answer 1

P₄ + 4NaOH + 2H₂O → 2PH₃ + 2Na₂HPO₃

Step-by-step explanation:

The given reaction expression is given as:

P₄ + NaOH + H₂O → PH₃ + Na₂HPO₃

To solve this problem, now we put coefficients a, b, c, d and e and we use a mathematical approach to solve this problem;

aP₄ + bNaOH + cH₂O → dPH₃ + eNa₂HPO₃

Conserving P: 4a = d + e

Na: b = 2e

O: b + c = 3e

H: b + 2c = 3d + e

let b = 1, e =
`(1)/(2)` , c =
`(1)/(2)`, d =
`(1)/(2)`, a =
`(1)/(4)`

Multiply through by 4;

b = 4, e = 2, c = 2, d = 2, a = 1

P₄ + 4NaOH + 2H₂O → 2PH₃ + 2Na₂HPO₃