Chemistry
Chemistry
10th Edition
ISBN: 9781305957404
Author: Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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**Balancing Chemical Equations: Understanding the Decomposition of Potassium Chlorate**

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### Example Problem:
**Balance the following equation, which describes the decomposition reaction that occurs when potassium chlorate is heated:**

\[ \_\_\_ \, \text{KClO}_3 (\text{s}) \rightarrow \_\_\_ \, \text{KCl} (\text{s}) \, + \, \_\_\_ \, \text{O}_2 (\text{g}) \]

### Explanation:
This equation represents the decomposition of potassium chlorate (KClO₃). When KClO₃ is heated, it breaks down into potassium chloride (KCl) and oxygen gas (O₂). The task is to balance this equation so that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the reaction.

#### Steps to Balance the Equation:
1. **Identify the number of atoms for each element on the reactant side (left side) and the product side (right side).**
2. **Adjust the coefficients (the numbers in front of the chemical formulas) to balance the number of atoms for each element.**

#### Balancing Process:
1. **Write the initial equation:**
    \[ \text{KClO}_3 (\text{s}) \rightarrow \text{KCl} (\text{s}) + \text{O}_2 (\text{g}) \]

2. **Count the number of atoms for each element on both sides:**
   - Reactants: 1 K, 1 Cl, 3 O
   - Products: 1 K, 1 Cl, 2 O

3. **Adjust the coefficient in front of \( \text{O}_2 \) to get the same number of oxygen atoms:**
    \[ \text{KClO}_3 (\text{s}) \rightarrow \text{KCl} (\text{s}) + \frac{3}{2} \, \text{O}_2 (\text{g}) \]
   - Now: 1 K, 1 Cl, 3 O (2 × 1.5 = 3)

4. **Add coefficients to balance the number of each element's atoms:**
    \[ 2 \, \text{KClO}_3 (\text{s}) \rightarrow 2 \, \text{KCl} (\text{s}) + 3
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Transcribed Image Text:**Balancing Chemical Equations: Understanding the Decomposition of Potassium Chlorate** --- ### Example Problem: **Balance the following equation, which describes the decomposition reaction that occurs when potassium chlorate is heated:** \[ \_\_\_ \, \text{KClO}_3 (\text{s}) \rightarrow \_\_\_ \, \text{KCl} (\text{s}) \, + \, \_\_\_ \, \text{O}_2 (\text{g}) \] ### Explanation: This equation represents the decomposition of potassium chlorate (KClO₃). When KClO₃ is heated, it breaks down into potassium chloride (KCl) and oxygen gas (O₂). The task is to balance this equation so that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the reaction. #### Steps to Balance the Equation: 1. **Identify the number of atoms for each element on the reactant side (left side) and the product side (right side).** 2. **Adjust the coefficients (the numbers in front of the chemical formulas) to balance the number of atoms for each element.** #### Balancing Process: 1. **Write the initial equation:** \[ \text{KClO}_3 (\text{s}) \rightarrow \text{KCl} (\text{s}) + \text{O}_2 (\text{g}) \] 2. **Count the number of atoms for each element on both sides:** - Reactants: 1 K, 1 Cl, 3 O - Products: 1 K, 1 Cl, 2 O 3. **Adjust the coefficient in front of \( \text{O}_2 \) to get the same number of oxygen atoms:** \[ \text{KClO}_3 (\text{s}) \rightarrow \text{KCl} (\text{s}) + \frac{3}{2} \, \text{O}_2 (\text{g}) \] - Now: 1 K, 1 Cl, 3 O (2 × 1.5 = 3) 4. **Add coefficients to balance the number of each element's atoms:** \[ 2 \, \text{KClO}_3 (\text{s}) \rightarrow 2 \, \text{KCl} (\text{s}) + 3
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