Question

How do you write the equation for this reaction: Nitrogen gas and fluorine gas combine to produce nitrogen trifluoride gas?

Answer 1

`1/2N_2(g) + 3/2F_2(g) rarr NF_3(g)`

Explanation:

`NF_3` is in fact not so nasty .... it is much safer than `NCl_3` or `NI_3`.. Of course the direct synthesis with fluorine gas is the province of specialist inorganic chemists...

Answer 2

`N_2 +3 F_2 -> 2NF_3`

Explanation:

Nitrogen molecule is `N_2`

Flourine molecule is `F_2`

Nitrogen triflouride is `NF_3`
(tri- means 3, and `N` usually has 3 covalent bonds, `F` has 1,
so 3`F` to 1`N`)

write unbalanced eqn for reaction

`N_2 + F_2 -> NF_3` (not balanced)

now balance the number of atoms on each side:
at least 2 atoms of nitrogen so at least 2 molecules of `NF_3`
2 molecules of `NF_3` need 6 `F` atoms = 3 `F_2` molecules.

`N_2 +3 F_2 -> 2NF_3` (now balanced, 2`N` and 6`F` atoms each side)