Question

How would you balance the following chemical equation: `KClO_3 -> KCl + O_2`?

Answer 1

`2KClO_3 -> 2KCl + 3O_2`

Explanation:

Given unbalanced equation:

`KClO_3 -> KCl + O_2`

Since the number of oxygens on the right hand side is even, we need a multiplier on the left hand side which is a multiple of `2`.

We find that `2` is sufficient, resulting in a total of `6` oxygens on the left hand side, requiring a multiplier `3` for the `O_2` on the right hand side, etc.

`2KClO_3 -> 2KCl + 3O_2`