How would you balance: Na + H2O --> NaOH + H2?
2 Answers
Explanation:
You have to count the number of atoms in both sides of the reaction to be equal, to make it a little easier you can make a list. So in the equation
So you multiply NaOH and H2O by 2, so you have 4 hydrogens in both sides, and then multiply Na by 2 to be equal to the NaOH you previously multiplied.
Explanation:
I'm assuming that you're supposed to balance this chemical equation by inspection. You could also balance it by using oxidation numbers, but I don't think that you're supposed to go that route here.
So, your unbalanced chemical equation looks like this
#"Na"_ ((s)) + "H"_ 2"O"_ ((l)) -> "NaOH"_ ((aq)) + "H"_ (2(g))#
Notice that you have
Here is where a little experience can come in handy. You can multiply the sodium hydroxide by
This will allow you to simply double the number of water molecules to get
So you now have
#"Na"_ ((s)) + color(blue)(2)"H"_ 2"O"_ ((l)) -> color(blue)(2)"NaOH"_ ((aq)) + "H"_ (2(g))#
Balance the atoms of sodium by multiplying sodium metal by
#2"Na"_ ((s)) + color(blue)(2)"H"_ 2"O"_ ((l)) -> color(blue)(2)"NaOH"_ ((aq)) + "H"_ (2(g))#
And now check to see if the atoms of oxygen are balanced. You have