Question

Balance the chemical equation shown below. Show work. _SiCl4+_H2O->_SiO2+_HCI

Answer 1

The balanced chemical reaction is
`SiCl_4+2H_2O  \rightarrow SiO_2+4HCI`

Explanation:

According to Law of conservation of mass, in an chemical reaction the mass of the reactant must be equal to the mass of the product obtained in the reaction.

`SiCl_4+H_2O \rightarrow SiO_2+HCI`

On the reactant side On the product side

Si = 1 Si = 1

Cl = 4 Cl = 1

H= 2 H= 2

O= 1 O= 2

Lets first balance Chlorine (Cl) by adding 4 on the product side

`SiCl_4+H_2O \rightarrow SiO_2+4HCI`

On the reactant side On the product side

Si = 1 Si = 1

Cl = 4 Cl = 4

H= 2 H= 4

O= 1 O= 2

Now lets balance H and O by adding 2 on the product side

`SiCl_4+2H_2O \rightarrow SiO_2+4HCI`

On the reactant side On the product side

Si = 1 Si = 1

Cl = 4 Cl = 4

H= 4 H= 4

O= 2 O= 2