Chapter 20, Problem 1RAT

To determine

The correct option for the statement “What coefficients balance the following equation: $\_{\text{P}}_4\left(\text{s}\right)+\_{\text{H}}_2\left(\text{g}\right)\to {\text{\_PH}}_3\left(\text{g}\right)$ ”.

Answer to Problem 1RAT

The correct option for the statement “What coefficients balance the following equation: $\_{\text{P}}_4\left(\text{s}\right)+\_{\text{H}}_2\left(\text{g}\right)\to {\text{\_PH}}_3\left(\text{g}\right)$ ” is option (b).

Explanation of Solution

Any reaction containing identical number of reacting atoms as well as produced atoms is referred as balanced equation.

Coefficients either describes the mole numbers or molecule numbers of participating species in any chemical equation.

In a given chemical equation,

$\_{\text{P}}_4\left(\text{s}\right)+\_{\text{H}}_2\left(\text{g}\right)\to {\text{\_PH}}_3\left(\text{g}\right)$ ,

There are four phosphorous atoms existing in reactant side and only one phosphorous atom on the product side, so to balance the phosphorus atoms the product side should be multiplied by four. Thus the equation will become,

$1{\text{P}}_4\left(\text{s}\right)+\_{\text{H}}_2\left(\text{g}\right)\to {\text{4PH}}_3\left(\text{g}\right)$ .

Now, there are two hydrogen atoms in reactant side and total of twelve hydrogen atoms in product side, so to balance the hydrogen atoms the hydrogen molecule on the reactant side should be multiplied by six. Thus the equation will now become,

$1{\text{P}}_4\left(\text{s}\right)+6{\text{H}}_2\left(\text{g}\right)\to {\text{4PH}}_3\left(\text{g}\right)$.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the correct option is option (b)