Question

Solid lithium chloride decomposes into chlorine gas and solid lithium. Write a balanced equation.

Answer 1

Lithium chloride is LiCl (because the valence of lithium is +1 and the valence of chlorine is -1). So the chemical equation is: Li Cl(s) ----> Li(s) + Cl2 (g). To balance the equation you need to multilply both Li Cl (s) and Li(s) by two, and then you finally get the balanced equation: 2 LiCl ---> 2 Li(s) + Cl2(g). Note that the number 2 to the right of Cl is a subscript.