are you good with chemistry and math?? ...if u are, heeelllppp?

Question

how would i balance this:
HNO3 + SO2 + H2O --> H2SO4 + NO

please include your steps (algebriacally) to help me understand it a bit more

thanks in advance

Answer 1

When I used to do these I found that the best method is to go through and as you need extra atoms on one side mark on in pencil an extra one. So eventually you will get the correct amount on each side.

Also if you know one side has atoms which need to be have an even number. For example in this one on the right hand side you have 2Hydrogens. This therefore means that overall you needs an even number of Hydrogen because any multiple you put in front of the sulphuric acid will give you an even number of hydrogens.

So, the final eq is

2HNO3 + 3SO2 + 2H20 = 3H2SO4 + 2NO

Answer 2

There is only one source of sulfur and one source of nitrogen, as well as one destination for each, so the number of molecules of SO2 will equal that of H2SO4, and HNO3 will equal NO. Your problem is that the hydrogens and oxygens don't work out easily.

It's easier to solve as an oxidation-reduction reaction, by separating it into 2 half-reactions:

Oxidation - SO2 + 2 H2O ---> H2SO4 + 2 H+ + 2 e
Reduction - HNO3 + 3 H+ + 3 e ---> NO + 2 H2O

Multiplying the top reaction by 3 and the bottom by 2 eliminates the electrons, and also the hydrogen ions, to give:

2 HNO3 + 3 SO2 + 2 H2O ---> 3 H2SO4 + 2 NO

Answer 3

2HNO3+3SO2+2H2O---3H2SO4+2NO

The best way to balance equation is to write out what you have in the original equation:
If you look at each subsript or numbers HNO3,
Hydrogen has 1
Nitrogen has 1 and oxygen carries a subsript so it has 3
Then SO2 same here
sulfur carries 1 and Oxygen 2
H2O has 2 hydrogens and 1 oxygen.
Do the same on the resultant side for H2SO4+NO
Get the sum of each element on the other ends of the yield. You'll notice there not balanced or have equal amount of each element. Your goal is to get them balanced.
What i like to do is trial and error approach may take time but usually works.
Placing a 2 or 3 in front of H2SO4 will tell give a different sum for the elements but still it won't balanced. Look at the elements place numbers or coefficients to get them balanced.

Answer 4

You have to end up with the same number of atoms of an element on both sides.
In the original equation there are 3 hydrogens, one nitrogen, one sulphur and six oxygens on the left, and 2 hydrogens, 1 nitrogen, 1 sulphur and 5 oxygens on the right. It is then possible to work out what the balanced equation would be.

Answer 5

This websites provide step-by-step information

http://dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/webdocs/Equations/Balance-Equation.html