How do you balance #O_2 + H_2S -> H_2O + S#?

1 Answer
Apr 18, 2016

This is a double displacement reaction. It can be balanced by ensuring that there are the same number of molecules on both sides.

Explanation:

First of all, we are going to need at least two molecules of oxygen on the right side. This means we will end up with 4 molecules of hydrogen, which gives us the following:

#O_2 + H_2S -> 2H_2O + S#

Since we have four molecules of hydrogen on the right side, we need four molecules of hydrogen on the left as well:

#O_2 + 2H_2S -> 2H_2O + S#

Seeing that we have four molecules of hydrogen on the left, we have two molecules of sulphur on the left as well.

#O_2 + 2H_2S -> 2H_2O + 2S#

This is totally balanced, since there is the same amount of everything on the left and right sides.

Hopefully this helps!