Now that we have put a coefficient of 2 in front of $NaNO_3$ and a coefficient of 1 in front of $PbCl_2$, what coefficient should go in front of NaCl to balance both the Cl atoms and the Na atoms?
$Pb(NO_3)_2+? NaCl \rightarrow 1 PbCl_2+2 NaNO_3$
Express your answer numerically as an integer.
Answer (1)
The problem requires balancing a chemical equation. By equating the number of Na and Cl atoms on both sides of the equation, we find that the coefficient in front of N a Cl must be 2. Therefore, the balanced equation is P b ( N O 3 ) 2 + 2 N a Cl → P b C l 2 + 2 N a N O 3 , and the answer is 2 .
Explanation
Analyzing the Chemical Equation We are given the following chemical equation:
P b ( N O 3 ) 2 + ? N a Cl → 1 P b C l 2 + 2 N a N O 3
We need to find the coefficient in front of N a Cl that balances the number of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) atoms on both sides of the equation.
Balancing Sodium Atoms Let x be the coefficient in front of N a Cl . The equation becomes:
P b ( N O 3 ) 2 + x N a Cl → 1 P b C l 2 + 2 N a N O 3
Now, let's balance the sodium (Na) atoms. On the left side, we have x Na atoms. On the right side, we have 2 Na atoms (from 2 N a N O 3 ). Therefore, we must have:
x = 2
Balancing Chlorine Atoms Next, let's balance the chlorine (Cl) atoms. On the left side, we have x Cl atoms. On the right side, we have 2 Cl atoms (from 1 P b C l 2 ). Therefore, we must have:
x = 2
Determining the Coefficient Since balancing both Na and Cl atoms requires x = 2 , the coefficient in front of N a Cl is 2.
Examples
Balancing chemical equations is crucial in chemistry for predicting the amount of reactants needed and products formed in a chemical reaction. For example, if you're synthesizing a compound in the lab, you need to know the exact amount of each reactant to use to ensure the reaction proceeds correctly and efficiently. This prevents waste and ensures the desired product is obtained.
