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When the following equation is balanced with the lowest whole number coefficients possible, what is the coefficient in front of naoh? naoh h3po4 yields h2o na3po4 1 2 3 4

User Buendiadas
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2 Answers

4 votes
It looks like you are talking about this equation :
NaOH + H3PO4 ----> H2O + Na3PO4
If so, the the coefficient in front of naoh should be 3 acording to the balanced form of this equation
3 NaOH + H3PO4 ----\ \textgreater \ 3 H2O + Na3PO4
User Sasse
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1 vote

Answer: Option (c) is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

An equation will be balanced when both number of reactants and products are equal.

The given equation is as follows.


NaOH + H_(3)PO_(4) \rightarrow H_(2)O + Na_(3)PO_(4)

Number of reactants are as follows.

  • Na = 1
  • O = 5
  • H = 4
  • P = 1

Number of reactants are as follows.

  • Na = 3
  • O = 5
  • H = 2
  • P = 1

To balance the equation, multiply NaOH on the reactant side by 3 and
H_(2)O on the product side by 3.

Therefore, the equation will be as follows.


3NaOH + H_(3)PO_(4) \rightarrow 3H_(2)O + Na_(3)PO_(4)

The coefficient in front of NaOH is 3.

User Krishna Majgaonkar
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