Question

Give balanced equation for the action of water on the following :

Sulphur dioxide

Answer 1

Balanced chemical equation :

• The method of representing chemical reactions in terms of symbols and formulae of the substances involved in them is called a chemical equation.
• The chemical equation in which the number of atoms of each element is equal to both sides of the arrow is called a balanced chemical equation.

The action of sulphur dioxide in water:

• Sulphur dioxide in the presence of water gives Sulphurous acid.

Balancing chemical reaction equation:

• $\underset{\mathrm{Sulphur}\mathrm{Dioxide}}{{\mathrm{SO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Water}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Sulphurous}\mathrm{acid}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}$
• Reactant side Product side
• Element No. of atom/s Element No. of atom/s
• Sulphur $1$ Sulphur $1$
• Oxygen $3$ Oxygen $3$
• Hydrogen $2$ Hydrogen $2$

Hence, it is a well-balanced equation because both sides have an equal number of atoms.