Question

How would you balance the following equation: H3PO4 +Mg(OH)2 --> Mg3(PO4)2 +H20?

Answer 1

`2H_3PO_4 + 3Mg(OH)_2 rarr Mg_3(PO_4)_2 + 3H_2O`

Explanation:

Is the equation balanced? How do you know? Are there as many particles on the left hand side as on the right hand side? If there is not, then you know the equation is unbalanced, and therefore not descriptive of mass balance and reality.

While this act of balancing may seem hard at first, I assure you that you can become very proficient at it. It's something that you do every day when you handle money. Do you know when you've been short-changed? I think you do (and if you don't can you give me five £5-00 notes for this £20-00 note?).