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Question

How would you balance PCl5+H2OH3PO4+HCl


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Solution

Balancing the Chemical equation:

  • When we balance chemical equations, we want the same number of each sort of atom on both sides of the equation.
  • Only the coefficients are changed. The numbers in front of the molecule are called coefficients.
  • Subscripts should never be changed.
  • Metals must be balanced first, followed by nonmetals such as oxygen and hydrogen.
  • The unbalanced chemical reaction provided is

PCl5(g)PhosphrousPentachloride+H2O(g)WaterH3PO4(l)Phosphoricacid+HCl(l)HydrogenChloride

  • It is a double displacement redox process.
  • The following table shows the number of atoms on each side:
Reactant sideProduct side
1 Phosphorus atom from PCl51 Phosphorus atom from H3PO4
2 Hydrogen atoms from H2O4 Hydrogen atoms from H3PO4 and HCl
5 Chlorine atoms from PCl51 Chlorine atom from HCl
1 Oxygen atom from H2SO44 Oxygen atoms from H3PO4
  • As there are five Chlorine atoms on the left side, we must put a 5 before HCl on the right side.

PCl5(g)PhosphrousPentachloride+H2O(g)WaterH3PO4(l)Phosphoricacid+5HCl(l)HydrogenChloride

Reactant sideProduct side
1 Phosphorus atom from PCl51 Phosphorus atom from H3PO4
2 Hydrogen atoms from H2O8 Hydrogen atoms from H3PO4 and HCl
5 Chlorine atoms from PCl55 Chlorine atom from HCl
1 Oxygen atom from H2SO44 Oxygen atoms from H3PO4
  • Second, Hydrogen must be balanced. As shown on the left, there is a total of eight Hydrogen atoms; thus, a 4 must be inserted before Water on the right side to balance them.

PCl5(g)PhosphrousPentachloride+4H2O(g)WaterH3PO4(l)Phosphoricacid+5HCl(l)HydrogenChloride

  • Finally, the oxygens must be balanced, but now, in this case, they are already at 4 on each side; therefore, the equation is now balanced.
Reactant sideProduct side
1 Phosphorus atom from PCl51 Phosphorus atom from H3PO4
8 Hydrogen atoms from H2O8 Hydrogen atoms from H3PO4 and HCl
5 Chlorine atoms from PCl55 Chlorine atom from HCl
4 Oxygen atom from H2SO44 Oxygen atoms from H3PO4
  • Thus, the balanced chemical reaction is:

PCl5(g)PhosphrousPentachloride+4H2O(g)WaterH3PO4(l)Phosphoricacid+5HCl(l)HydrogenChloride


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