Final answer:
A balanced chemical equation represents the same number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation. The balanced equation for the reaction of sodium with chlorine gas is 2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl. Chlorine is diatomic naturally, which is essential to know when balancing equations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chemical equations must be balanced to obey the Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. This means the number of each type of atom must be the same on both sides of the equation.
For the sodium and chlorine reaction, only one of the options is a balanced equation:
- a. Na2Cl2 → 2NaCl
- b. NaCl2 → NaCl
- c. 2NaCl2 → 2NaCl
- d. 2NaCl2 → NaCl
Using the coefficients that ensure the same number and types of atoms appear on both sides of the equation, the balanced equation for the reaction of sodium (Na) with chlorine gas (Cl2) is:
2Na (s) + Cl2 (g) → 2NaCl (s)
It's worth remembering that chlorine is one of the seven elements that exist as diatomic molecules in nature (H2, N2, O2, F2, Cl2, Br2, and I2).