Question

Fill in the coefficients that will balance the following reaction: a0Ca + a1CO2 + a2O2 → a3CaCO3

Answer 1

The chemical equation without coefficients is:


Ca + CO2 + O2 --------> Ca CO3


You can balance that equation by trial an error.


This is the chemical equation balanced:


2Ca + 2CO2 + O2 --------> 2Ca CO3


Count the atoms on each side to check the balance


Atom    Left side         right side

Ca         2                     2 

C           2                     2

O          2*2 + 2 = 6       2*3 = 6


Then those are the coefficients:

a0 = 2

a1 = 2

a2 = 1

a3 = 2