Question

[04.02]What coefficients must be added to balance the following equation?

_____LiOH + _____H2 SO4 _____ Li2SO4 + _____ H2O

[A] 2, 1, 1, 1,
[B] 3, 1, 1, 3
[C] 2, 1, 1, 2
[D] 4, 2, 2, 1

Answer 1

Methink this is a neutralization reaction where an acid reacts with a base to form salt and water; but if we must balance the equation, we need to know what the product would be? So our base LiOH reacts with our acid Tetraoxosulphate (VI) H2SO4. The reaction produces salt and water as evidence. LiOH + H2SO4 gives Li2SO4 and H20. We need to make sure that the total atoms on the LHS and RHS balanced. So adding two moles of LiOH, we have 2LiOH + H2SO4 produces LiSO4 + H20. The eqn isn't balanced yet as there's 2 moles of deficit H2 atoms on the RHS, So our final reaction we have 2LiOH + H2SO4 gives Li2SO4 + 2H2O. Hence our answer is C