Chlorine gas, #Cl_2#, reacts with potassium bromide, #KBr#, to form potassium chloride and bromine, #Br_2#. How do you write the balanced equation for this single-displacement reaction?

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Answer 1 · 2016-01-01T00:56:47

#"Cl"_2" + 2KBr"##rarr##"2KCl" + "Br"_2"#

Unbalanced Equation

#"Cl"_2" + KBr"##rarr##"KCl" + "Br"_2"#

Balance the Cl

There are 2 Cl atoms on the left side and 1 Cl atom on the right side.

Add a coefficient of 2 in front of KCl on the right side.

#"Cl"_2" + KBr"##rarr##"2KCl" + "Br"_2"#

There are now 2 Cl atoms on both sides.

Balance the Br

There are 2 Br atoms on the right side and 1 Br atom on the left side. Add a coefficient of 2 in front of KBr.

#"Cl"_2" + 2KBr"##rarr##"2KCl" + "Br"_2"#

The equation is now balanced with 2 Cl atoms, 2 K atoms, and 2 Br atoms on both sides of the equation.

Note: You can substitute the words atom or atoms by mole or moles.