Balance the following equations: c. NaHCO3(π )+H2SO4(ππ)βΆCO2(π)+H2O(π)+Na2SO4(ππ)
Ch.3 - Chemical Reactions and Reaction Stoichiometry

Brown15th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780137542970Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 3, Problem 15c
Write balanced chemical equations corresponding to each of the following descriptions: c. Solid zinc metal reacts with sulfuric acid to form hydrogen gas and an aqueous solution of zinc sulfate.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the reactants and products in the reaction. In this case, the reactants are solid zinc metal and sulfuric acid, and the products are hydrogen gas and an aqueous solution of zinc sulfate.
Step 2: Write the unbalanced chemical equation. The chemical symbols for zinc, sulfuric acid, hydrogen gas, and zinc sulfate are Zn, H2SO4, H2, and ZnSO4, respectively. So, the unbalanced chemical equation is: Zn + H2SO4 -> H2 + ZnSO4
Step 3: Balance the chemical equation. Start by balancing the atoms that appear in the most complex molecules first. In this case, start with the sulfate ions (SO4). There is one sulfate ion on each side, so it is already balanced. Next, balance the hydrogen atoms. There are two hydrogen atoms on the left side and two on the right side, so they are also balanced. Finally, balance the zinc atoms. There is one zinc atom on each side, so it is also balanced. Therefore, the balanced chemical equation is: Zn + H2SO4 -> H2 + ZnSO4
Step 4: Check your work. Make sure that there are the same number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation. In this case, there is one zinc atom, one sulfate ion, and two hydrogen atoms on both sides, so the equation is balanced.
Step 5: Write the states of matter for each substance in the equation. Solid zinc metal is denoted as Zn(s), sulfuric acid in aqueous solution is H2SO4(aq), hydrogen gas is H2(g), and zinc sulfate in aqueous solution is ZnSO4(aq). So, the final balanced chemical equation is: Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq) -> H2(g) + ZnSO4(aq)

Verified video answer for a similar problem:
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
2mWas this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Balancing Chemical Equations
Balancing chemical equations involves ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both the reactant and product sides. This is based on the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Each side of the equation must have equal numbers of each type of atom, which often requires adjusting coefficients in front of the chemical formulas.
Recommended video:
Guided course
Balancing Chemical Equations
Types of Chemical Reactions
The reaction described is a single displacement reaction, where one element replaces another in a compound. In this case, zinc displaces hydrogen from sulfuric acid, resulting in the formation of hydrogen gas and zinc sulfate. Understanding the types of reactions helps in predicting the products and writing the correct balanced equations.
Recommended video:
Guided course
Common Types of Alkane Reactions
Chemical Formulas and States of Matter
Chemical formulas represent the composition of substances, indicating the types and numbers of atoms involved. In the given reaction, zinc (Zn) is a solid, sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is a liquid, hydrogen (H2) is a gas, and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) is an aqueous solution. Recognizing the states of matter is crucial for accurately representing the reaction and understanding the physical changes that occur.
Related Practice
Textbook Question
2
views
Textbook Question
Write balanced chemical equations to correspond to each of the following descriptions: (a) When sulfur trioxide gas reacts with water, a solution of sulfuric acid forms. (b) Boron sulfide, B2S3(s), reacts violently with water to form dissolved boric acid, H3BO3, and hydrogen sulfide gas.
879
views
Textbook Question
Balance the following equations: b. WCl6(π )+Na2S(π )βΆWS2(π )+NaCl(π )+S(π )
4
views
Textbook Question
Write balanced chemical equations to correspond to each of the following descriptions: (c) Phosphine, PH3(g), combusts in oxygen gas to form water vapor and solid tetraphosphorus decaoxide.
509
views
Textbook Question
Balance the following equations: d, NaN3(π )+HNO2(ππ)βΆN2(π)+NO(π)+NaOH(ππ)
4
views
