Final answer:
The correctly balanced chemical equation for the reaction between gallium hydroxide and mercury (I) chloride is Ga(OH)3 + 2 Hg2Cl2 → 2 Hg2OH + 3 GaCl3, ensuring the conservation of mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
To write a balanced formula equation for the reaction of gallium hydroxide with mercury (I) chloride to produce mercury (I) hydroxide and gallium chloride, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. This is an application of the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.
After analyzing the provided options, the correct and balanced formula equation is: Ga(OH)3 + 2 Hg2Cl2 → 2 Hg2OH + 3 GaCl3.
Gallium hydroxide has the formula Ga(OH)3 and mercury (I) chloride is represented as Hg2Cl2 because mercury (I) ion is dimeric (Hg22+). The products of the reaction are mercury (I) hydroxide, Hg2OH, and gallium chloride, which is GaCl3. The equation shows that one mole of gallium hydroxide reacts with two moles of mercury (I) chloride to form two moles of mercury (I) hydroxide and three moles of gallium chloride, satisfying the conditions for a balanced reaction.