How would you balance the following equation: S8 + O2 --> SO3?

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Answer 1 · 2016-01-04T04:45:23

The balanced equation is #"S"_8+"12O"_2"##rarr##"8SO"_3"#.

Unbalanced Equation
#"S"_8+"O"_2"##rarr##"SO"_3"#

Balance the S. There are #8# atoms (or moles) of S on the left side and 1 on the right side. Place a coefficient of #8# in front of #"SO"_3"#.

#"S"_8+"O"_2"##rarr##"8SO"_3"#

Now there are #8# atoms (or moles) of sulfur on both sides of the equation.

Balance the O. There are #2# atoms (or moles) of O on the left side and #24# on the right. Place a coefficient of #12# in front of #"O"_2"#.

#"S"_8+"12O"_2"##rarr##"8SO"_3"#

There are now equal numbers of atoms (or moles) of sulfur and oxygen on both sides and the equation is balanced.