Question

Write a balanced chemical equation describing the oxidation of the bromide ion by solid xenon trioxide to produce bromine liquid and xenon gas in an acidic aqueous solution. Use the smallest whole-number coefficients possible.

Answer 1

Answer:

6Br⁻ + XeO₃ + 6H⁺ → 3Br₂ + Xe + 3H₂O  

Explanation:

First, we need to write the half-reactions:

2Br⁻ → Br₂ + 2e⁻ Oxidation -Balanced yet-

XeO₃ →  Xe Reduction

To balance the reduction in acidic aqueous solution we need to add waters in the other side of the reaction as oxygens are present:

XeO₃ →  Xe + 3H₂O

And H⁺ as hydrogens from water we have:

XeO₃ + 6H⁺ →  Xe + 3H₂O

To balance the charge:

XeO₃ + 6H⁺ + 6e⁻ →  Xe + 3H₂O  Reduction -Balanced-

To cancel out the electrons of both half-reaction we need to multiply oxidation 3 times:

6Br⁻ → 3Br₂ + 6e⁻

XeO₃ + 6H⁺ + 6e⁻ →  Xe + 3H₂O  

And the balanced reaction in acidic aqueous solution is the sum of both half-reactions:

6Br⁻ + XeO₃ + 6H⁺ → 3Br₂ + Xe + 3H₂O