Question

How do you balance the following reaction: `?KOH + ?H_3PO_4 -> ?K_3PO_4 + ?H_2O`?

Answer 1

`"Garbage in must equal garbage out........"`

Explanation:

`H_3PO_4(aq) + 3KOH(aq) rarr K_3PO_4(aq) + 3H_2O(l)`

This reaction is a bit of an idealization, inasmuch as phosphoric acid behaves as a diprotic acid in water.

A more realistic interpretation would be,

`H_3PO_4(aq) + 2KOH(aq) rarr K_2HPO_4(aq) + 2H_2O(l)`

In both cases, are mass and charge conserved? If they are not, then you know that the reaction does not reflect reality.