Question

How to balance the chemical equation $\mathrm{Na}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2\mathrm{O}.$

Answer 1

Balancing chemical equation:

The given equation is; $\mathrm{Na}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2\mathrm{O}$

Steps to balance the equation:

Step 1: Write the unbalanced Chemical Equation

The unbalanced equation :$\mathrm{Na}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2\mathrm{O}$

Step 2: Write down the number of atoms

Write down the number of atoms of each element present on both reactant as well as product side

Atom	Reactant side	Product side
Na	1	2
O	2	1

Step 3: Add coefficients to balance mass in a chemical equation

• First balance O atoms and then atoms of Na by trial and error method.
• Add a stoichiometric coefficient of 2 on the product side to first balance the O atoms.
• Then for balancing the Na atoms, add a stoichiometric coefficient of 4 on the reactant side and it will balance the whole reaction given by; $\underset{\mathrm{Sodium}}{4\mathrm{Na}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Oxygen}}{{\mathrm{O}}_2(\mathrm{g}})\to \underset{\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{oxide}}{2{\mathrm{Na}}_2\mathrm{O}}(\mathrm{s})$

Hence, the balanced equation is: $\underset{\mathrm{Sodium}}{4\mathrm{Na}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Oxygen}}{{\mathrm{O}}_2(\mathrm{g}})\to \underset{\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{oxide}}{2{\mathrm{Na}}_2\mathrm{O}}(\mathrm{s})$