Question

A student proposed that the balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:

Pb(NO3)2 + 2NaI → PbI2 + 2NaNO3
Determine whether this is a correctly balanced equation and give evidence for your conclusion.
A. Correctly balanced; the number of atoms on both sides is equal.
B. Not correctly balanced; the charges are not balanced.
C. Correctly balanced; the mass is conserved.
D. Not correctly balanced; the number of atoms is unequal.

Answer 1

The proposed chemical equation is correctly balanced because the number of atoms on both sides is equal.

Step-by-step explanation:

The proposed balanced chemical equation for the reaction is: Pb(NO3)2 + 2NaI → PbI2 + 2NaNO3

To determine if this equation is correctly balanced, we need to check if the number of atoms on both sides of the equation is equal. Let's count the number of atoms:

Reactants: 1 Pb atom, 2 N atoms, 6 O atoms, 2 Na atoms, 2 I atoms

Products: 1 Pb atom, 2 I atoms, 6 O atoms, 2 Na atoms, 2 N atoms

Since the number of atoms is equal on both sides, the equation is correctly balanced. Therefore, the correct answer is A. Correctly balanced; the number of atoms on both sides is equal.