Final answer:
The chemical equation for the reaction between zinc (II) and ammonium sulfide is Zn(s) + (NH4)2S(aq) → ZnS(s) + 2 NH3(g) + H2S(g).
Step-by-step explanation:
The chemical equation for the reaction between zinc (II) and ammonium sulfide can be written by considering the charges on the ions. Zinc, which forms ions with a +2 charge (Zn2+), and sulfide ion with a -2 charge (S2-), will react in a 1:1 ratio to form zinc sulfide (ZnS). However, when we talk about ammonium sulfide, the compound contains two ammonium ions (NH4+) for every sulfide ion (S2-) to balance the charges. The balanced equation for this reaction would be:
Zn(s) + (NH4)2S(aq) → ZnS(s) + 2 NH3(g) + H2S(g)