Question

How would you balance this equation: `?Pb(NO_3)_2 → ?Pb + ?NO_2 + ?O_2`?

Answer 1

`Pb(NO_3)_2 rarr Pb + O2 + 2NO_2`

Explanation:

To balance this reaction first we have to see the number of moles of each element.

`Pb(NO_3)_2 rarr Pb + O_2 + NO_2`

(Pb = 1) (Pb = 1)

`(N = 2)` `(O = cancel(4)^6)`

(O = 6 ) `(N = cancel(1)^2)`

First try adding 3 as the coefficient in front of `O_2` and 2 in front of `NO_2` but that will be wrong as 2NO2 has 4 oxygen atoms which we dont have, so to make a balanced equation we must remove 3 from O2 and add 2 in front of `NO_2`

= `Pb(NO_3)_2 rarr Pb + O2 + 2NO_2`