Fill in the gaps to balance the equation.
Use the smallest set of whole numbers to balance the equation and include coefficients of "1" when appropriate.
[tex]$\square$ LiOH + $\square$ ZnCl _2 \rightarrow $\square$ LiCl + $\square$ Zn ( OH )_2[/tex]
Complete the table to determine how many atoms of each element are present in the reactants and products.
| Element | Reactant | Products |
|---|---|---|
| Li | $\square$ | $\square$ |
| O | $\square$ | $\square$ |
| H | $\square$ | $\square$ |
| Zn | $\square$ | $\square$ |
| Cl | $\square$ | $\square$ |
Answer (1)
Balance the equation by adjusting coefficients: 2 L i O H + Z n C l 2 → 2 L i Cl + Z n ( O H ) 2 .
Count the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side.
Count the number of atoms of each element on the product side.
Verify that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides: 2 L i O H + Z n C l 2 → 2 L i Cl + Z n ( O H ) 2 .
Explanation
Analyzing the Problem We are given the unbalanced chemical equation: L i O H + Z n C l 2 → L i Cl + Z n ( O H ) 2 . Our goal is to find the smallest whole number coefficients that balance the equation and to complete the table showing the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the balanced equation.
Balancing Lithium Let's start by balancing the equation. We can begin by balancing Lithium (Li). To do this, we need two L i atoms on both sides. So, we put a coefficient of 2 in front of L i O H and L i Cl . The equation now looks like this:
2 L i O H + Z n C l 2 → 2 L i Cl + Z n ( O H ) 2
Verifying the Balance Next, let's check if the other elements are balanced. We have 2 L i atoms on both sides. We have 2 O atoms on both sides. We have 2 H atoms on both sides. We have 1 Z n atom on both sides. We have 2 Cl atoms on both sides. Therefore, the equation is now balanced.
The balanced equation is:
2 L i O H + Z n C l 2 → 2 L i Cl + Z n ( O H ) 2
Completing the Table Now, let's complete the table to show the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the balanced equation.
Element
Reactant
Products
Li
2
2
O
2
2
H
2
2
Zn
1
1
Cl
2
2
Final Answer The balanced equation is 2 L i O H + Z n C l 2 → 2 L i Cl + Z n ( O H ) 2 , and the completed table is shown above.
Examples
Balancing chemical equations is essential in various real-world applications, such as in the pharmaceutical industry when synthesizing new drugs, in environmental science when studying chemical reactions in the atmosphere or water, and in materials science when creating new compounds with specific properties. For example, when designing a new drug, chemists need to ensure that the chemical reaction used to synthesize the drug is balanced to avoid unwanted byproducts and maximize the yield of the desired compound. Similarly, in environmental science, understanding the balanced chemical equations of pollutants helps in devising strategies to mitigate their impact on the environment.
