Question

What are the products of a reaction between zinc and silver chlorate?

Answer 1

`3 Zn + AgClO_3 + 6 HCl = 3 ZnCl_2 + 3 H_2O + AgCl`

Explanation:

the reaction doesn't happen between solids but in solution, so you must write in ionic form.

Zn is a reductant and oxidizes to `Zn_2+` while the clorate is an oxidant and reduces to `Cl^-`.

The reactions are the following:
`Zn = 2 e+ Zn^(2+)`
`6 e + ClO_3^- + 6 H^+ = 3 H_2O + Cl^-`

Multiplying for three the first reaction and adding the two reaction you obtain:
`3 Zn + ClO_3^- + 6 H^+ = 3 Zn^(2+) + 3 H_2O + Cl^-`

`Ag^+` is usefull only to salificate the anion:
`3 Zn + AgClO_3 + 6 H^+ = 3 Zn^(2+) + 3 H_2O + AgCl`

To produce the reaction is necessary a strong acid that gives the hydrogen ions, for example HCl, so the reaction may be written:
`3 Zn + AgClO_3 + 6 HCl = 3 ZnCl_2 + 3 H_2O + AgCl`