Final answer:
To balance the chemical equation MgCl2 + Na2O → NaCl + MgO, follow these steps: count the number of atoms, balance elements in compounds, and check the final equation for balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
To balance the chemical equation MgCl2 + Na2O → NaCl + MgO, you need to make sure that the number of each type of atom is the same on both sides of the equation. Here are the steps to balance the equation:
- Count the number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation. There is 1 Mg, 2 Cl, 2 Na, and 1 O on the left side, and 1 Na, 1 Cl, 1 Mg, and 1 O on the right side.
- Start by balancing the elements that appear in only one compound. In this case, balance the Na and Cl atoms by placing a coefficient of 2 in front of NaCl: MgCl2 + Na2O → 2NaCl + MgO.
- Next, balance the Mg and O atoms. Place a coefficient of 1 in front of MgO: MgCl2 + Na2O → 2NaCl + MgO.
- Check that the number of each type of atom is now the same on both sides of the equation. In this case, there are 1 Mg, 2 Cl, 2 Na, and 1 O on each side of the equation.
The balanced equation is MgCl2 + Na2O → 2NaCl + MgO.