Question

Balance the following equations

a.H2+O2 -> H2O

b.ZnS + O2 -> ZnO + SO2

Answer 1

a. 2H2 + O2--> 2H2O

b. 2ZnS +3O2-->2ZnO +2SO2

Step-by-step explanation:

a.

note:

(when you put coefficients before the elements or the compounds you should multiply it by each element and the number that's on its right...

so if it's 2H2O

that is 2xH2 which is 4 hydrogen atoms

and 2 x O which is 2 oxygen atoms )

......

on the left side of the equation

there are two atoms of oxygen

but on the right side there's only one atom

so in order to balance them you have to put 2 as a coefficient for H2O

H2+O2 ->2H2O

so now you have 2 hydrogen atoms on the left side and 4 on the right side

you put 2 as a coefficient for H2

and now

there's 4 hydrogen atoms on both sides

and 2 oxygen atoms on both sides

b.

you do the same here

ZnS + O2 -> ZnO + SO2

2 oxygen atoms ---> 3 oxygen atoms

ZnS + 2O2 -> ZnO + SO2

4 oxygen atoms ---> 3 oxygen atoms

ZnS + 2O2 -> 2ZnO + SO2

4 oxygen atoms ---> 4 oxygen atoms

but

1 Zn ---> 2Zn

2ZnS + 2O2 -> 2ZnO + SO2

2S --> 1S

2ZnS + 2O2 -> 2ZnO + 2SO2

2S--> 2S

but

4O---> 6O

2ZnS + 3O2 -> 2ZnO + 2SO2