Question

I need help balancing this equation:
__Pb(OH)2 + __HCl ---> __H20 + __ PbCl2

Answer 1

The balanced chemical equation is 1 Pb(OH)2 + 2 HCl -> 2 H2O + 1 PbCl2, by balancing lead, chlorine, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The given chemical equation is an example of a double displacement reaction where lead hydroxide reacts with hydrochloric acid, producing water and lead(II) chloride. To balance the equation, we must ensure that the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side is equal to the number on the product side.

Let's assign coefficients step by step:

1. Start by balancing the lead atoms. There is one lead atom on both sides, so we can keep the coefficients for Pb(OH)2 and PbCl2 as 1.
2. Next, balance the chlorine atoms. There are two chlorine atoms in PbCl2, so we need two molecules of HCl. Thus, the coefficient for HCl becomes 2.
3. Now balance the oxygen and hydrogen atoms. Since we now have 2 molecules of HCl providing 2 hydrogens and there are already 2 hydroxyl groups (OH-) in one molecule of Pb(OH)2, we get a total of 4 hydrogen atoms, which would produce 2 molecules of H2O to balance the hydrogen atoms. Therefore, the coefficient for H2O is 2.

The balanced equation is: 1 Pb(OH)2 + 2 HCl → 2 H2O + 1 PbCl2.