How do i write the unbalanced equation for this problem? Help!?

Question

Crude gunpowders often contain a mixture of potassium nitrate and charcoal (carbon). When such a mixture is heated until reaction occurs, a solid residue of potassium carbonate is produced. The explosive force of the gunpowder comes from the fact that two gases are also produced (carbon dioxide and nitrogen), which increase in volume with great force and speed. Write the unbalanced equation for the process.

Answer 1

Hi lindaalicious,

I just wanted to add to lhvinny's answer.

Notice in the description they give you states of the reactants and products. So you want to include those on your compounds as subscripted parentheticals.

So N2 gas would N2 (g) subscripted. and K2CO3 (s)
KNO3 in solution would be aqueous but as a gun powder it shouldn't hurt to label it as solid (just keep in mind that it is very soluble in solution)

take care

*****on an extra side note, I think what FrogChemist is saying might be true depending on how you are taught, what school you go to, etc. When I was in high school just 3 years ago in NY, we did put them as a subscript (yes technically italicized too) - but it's hard to write with your hand and a pencil in italics anyway. We don't put the state as regular font in the same line as the actual compounds. Think of it as a side note, comment on that compound.

Answer 2

Potassium Nitrate = KNO3
Carbon = C

Potassium Carbonate = K2CO3
Carbon Dioxide = CO2
Nitrogen = N2

KNO3 + C ~> K2CO3 + CO2 + N2

Answer 3

you acquire all of them different than the third one. in certainty to stability an equation, the style of atoms on one area ought to equivalent the atoms on the different area. as an occasion, interior the 1st equation you have a million ok on the left area and a million ok of the surprising area. you besides would have a million Br on the left area and a million Br on the surprising area. etc.... So it rather is balanced because of the fact the style of particular atoms on left are the comparable as on the surprising.

Answer 4

I would like to add to elecbass100's answer. It is a common misconception that the state in parenthesis are subscripted, but in standard usage, the state inside the parenthesis is in italics, not subscripted.