Final answer:
To balance the equation Ni(ClO3)2 → NiCl2 + O2, we start by balancing the most complex reactant containing chlorine and oxygen. By placing a 3 in front of O2 on the product side, we balance the six oxygen atoms. The final balanced equation is Ni(ClO3)2 → NiCl2 + 3O2.
Step-by-step explanation:
To balance the equation Ni(ClO3)2 → NiCl2 + O2, let's start with the reactant that contains chlorine and oxygen, as it seems to be the most complex. We'll balance the chlorine and oxygen atoms first and then balance the nickel atoms.
According to the original equation, we have one nickel atom, two chlorine atoms, and six oxygen atoms in the reactants and one nickel atom and two chlorine atoms in the products. However, oxygen usually exists as a diatomic molecule (O2), so let's use this fact to balance the oxygen atoms.
Place the coefficient 3 in front of O2 on the product side to balance six oxygen atoms, which changes the equation to Ni(ClO3)2 → NiCl2 + 3O2.
Now the oxygens are balanced, but the chlorines are not. Since there are two chlorine atoms on the left and right sides of the equation, chlorine atoms are already balanced.
Finally, we confirm that nickel is still balanced with one atom on each side. With all elements balanced, the equation is now correctly balanced.
The balanced chemical equation is: Ni(ClO3)2 → NiCl2 + 3O2.