Answer:
4 NH₃ (g) + 3 O₂ (g) ----> 2 N₂ (g) + 6 H₂O (g) + energy
Explanation:
The unbalanced equation:
NH₃ (g) + O₂ (g) ----> N₂ (g) + H₂O (g) + energy
<u>Reactants:</u> 1 nitrogen, 3 hydrogen, 2 oxygen
<u>Products:</u> 2 nitrogen, 2 hydrogen, 1 oxygen
The sort-of balanced equation
2 NH₃ (g) + 1/2 O₂ (g) ----> N₂ (g) + 3 H₂O (g) + energy
I first started by balancing the nitrogens. This then lead me to balance the hydrogens. When I went to balance the oxygens, only a 1/2 coefficient would work. However, 1/2 coefficients are technically incorrect. To get rid of this coefficient, you need to multiply each coefficient by 2.
The balanced equation:
4 NH₃ (g) + 3 O₂ (g) ----> 2 N₂ (g) + 6 H₂O (g) + energy
<u>Reactants:</u> 4 nitrogen, 12 hydrogen, 6 oxygen
<u>Products:</u> 4 nitrogen, 12 hydrogen, 6 oxygen
Now, all of the elements are equal on both sides and there are no 1/2 coefficients. These are the smallest whole-number coefficients because some of the numbers cannot be further simplified (3).
