Question

___HC2H3O2 + ___KNO2 → ___KC2H3O2 + ___HNO2

Answer 1

Let a, b, c, d be coefficients for the balanced reaction:

a HC₂H₃O₂ + b KNO₂   →   c KC₂H₃O₂ + d HNO₂

Count the elements among the reactants and products:

H: 4a = 3c + d

C: 2a = 2c

O: 2a + 2b = 2c + 2d

K: b = c

N: b = d

Suppose we let b = 1. Then both c = 1 and d = 1, and in the O equation we have

2a + 2 = 2 + 2   ⇒   2a = 2   ⇒   a = 1

(Note that the equations for H and C also hold up.)

So the balanced reaction is simply

1 HC₂H₃O₂ + 1 KNO₂   →   1 KC₂H₃O₂ + 1 HNO₂