Translate the statement into chemical equation and then balance:
Potassium metal reacts with water to give potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
Statement: Potassium (K) metal reacts with water (H2O) to give potassium hydroxide (KOH) and hydrogen gas (H2)
Part 1: Translation in a chemical equation
K+H2O⟶KOH+H2↑
Part 2: Balancing of a chemical equation
A balanced chemical equation represents a chemical equation in which the number of atoms of each element on both reactant and product sides are the same.
The balanced chemical equation for the given reaction is:
2K(s)+2H2O(l)⟶2KOH(aq)+H2↑(g)+heat energy
Atom | Reactant | Product |
K | 2 | 2 |
H | 4 | 4 |
O | 2 | 2 |