Balance the entire chemical reaction using an atom inventory. Remember to balance each element in the reaction.
[tex]HBr+Ba(OH)_2 \rightarrow BaBr_2+H_2 O[/tex]
When the reaction is balanced, what is the correct whole number coefficient for hydrobromic acid, HBr?
Answer (2)
Balance the number of Br atoms by multiplying HBr by 2: 2 H B r + B a ( O H ) 2 i g h t ha r p oo n u pB a B r 2 + H 2 O .
Balance the number of H atoms by multiplying H 2 O by 2: 2 H B r + B a ( O H ) 2 i g h t ha r p oo n u pB a B r 2 + 2 H 2 O .
Verify that the number of Ba and O atoms are balanced.
The coefficient for HBr is 2 .
Explanation
Analyzing the Problem We are given the unbalanced chemical reaction: H B r + B a ( O H ) 2 i g h t ha r p oo n u pB a B r 2 + H 2 O Our goal is to balance this equation and determine the coefficient for hydrobromic acid (HBr).
Balancing Barium First, let's balance the barium (Ba) atoms. There is one Ba atom on both sides of the equation, so barium is already balanced.
Balancing Bromine Next, we balance the bromine (Br) atoms. There is one Br atom on the left side (in HBr) and two Br atoms on the right side (in BaBr2). To balance bromine, we multiply HBr by 2: 2 H B r + B a ( O H ) 2 i g h t ha r p oo n u pB a B r 2 + H 2 O
Balancing Hydrogen Now, let's balance the hydrogen (H) atoms. On the left side, we have 2 H atoms from 2HBr and 2 H atoms from Ba(OH)2, giving us a total of 4 H atoms. On the right side, we have 2 H atoms in H2O. To balance hydrogen, we multiply H2O by 2: 2 H B r + B a ( O H ) 2 i g h t ha r p oo n u pB a B r 2 + 2 H 2 O
Balancing Oxygen Finally, we balance the oxygen (O) atoms. On the left side, we have 2 O atoms from Ba(OH)2. On the right side, we have 2 O atoms from 2H2O. Thus, oxygen is already balanced.
Final Answer The balanced chemical reaction is: 2 H B r + B a ( O H ) 2 i g h t ha r p oo n u pB a B r 2 + 2 H 2 O The coefficient for hydrobromic acid (HBr) in the balanced equation is 2.
Examples
Balancing chemical equations is essential in various fields, such as environmental science, medicine, and materials science. For instance, in environmental science, it helps in understanding and mitigating pollution by accurately representing chemical reactions occurring in the environment. In medicine, it is crucial for drug development and understanding metabolic processes. In materials science, it aids in designing new materials with specific properties by controlling the chemical reactions involved in their synthesis. For example, if you're working in a lab and need to neutralize a barium hydroxide solution with hydrobromic acid, knowing the balanced equation ensures you use the correct amounts of each chemical to achieve complete neutralization without excess reactants.
The balanced equation for the reaction of hydrobromic acid and barium hydroxide is 2 H B r + B a ( O H ) 2 → B a B r 2 + 2 H 2 O . The coefficient for hydrobromic acid (HBr) in this balanced equation is 2. This means that two molecules of HBr are required to fully react with one molecule of barium hydroxide.
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