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Question

Balance the given reaction Na(s)Sodium+H2O(l)waterNaOH(aq)sodiumhydroxide+H2(g)hydrogen


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Solution

Steps for balancing the reaction:

  1. A balanced equation is a chemical reaction in which the overall charge and the number of atoms for each element are the same for reactants and the products side. In other words, the mass and charge of both sides of the reaction are equal.
  2. To balance a chemical reaction we first need to write an unbalanced equation.
  3. Then we have to count the number of atoms (except oxygen and hydrogen) present on the reactant and product side.
  4. Add the required coefficient in front of that element or compound to balance it.
  5. At last, balancing oxygen and hydrogen because they are present in more than one compound.

Element

Reactant side

Product side

Sodium (Na)11
Hydrogen (H)23
Oxygen (O)11

The reaction of sodium and water:

  1. Sodium reacts with water to form a strong base i.e. sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
  2. The unbalanced equation for the reaction of sodium and water is Na(s)Sodium+H2O(l)waterNaOH(aq)sodiumhydroxide+H2(g)hydrogen
  3. From the unbalanced equation, we can see that hydrogen is not balanced on both sides so by multiplying NaOH and H2O by 2 we get four hydrogen atoms on both sides. Na(s)Sodium+2H2O(l)water2NaOH(aq)sodiumhydroxide+H2(g)hydrogen
  4. Now, for balancing sodium we add 2 coefficient before sodium. 2Na(s)Sodium+2H2O(l)water2NaOH(aq)sodiumhydroxide+H2(g)hydrogen
  5. The oxygen is automatically balanced in the reaction.

Element

Reactant side

Product side

Sodium (Na)22
Hydrogen (H)44
Oxygen (O)22

Therefore, the balanced equation is 2Na(s)Sodium+2H2O(l)water2NaOH(aq)sodiumhydroxide+H2(g)hydrogen


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