Answer to Question #146406 in General Chemistry for Lily

Question

When the chemical equation SO2+Cl2–>SOCl2+Cl2O is balanced using the smallest set of whole number coefficients, what is the coefficent for SOCl2?

Answer 1

Q146406

When the chemical equation SO₂ + Cl₂ –> SOCl₂ + Cl₂O is balanced using the smallest set of whole number coefficients, what is the coefficient for SOCl₂ ?

Solution:

We will first count the total number of atoms on both reactant and product side.

SO₂ + Cl₂ –> SOCl₂ + Cl₂O

Reactant / Product

S 1 / 1

O 2 / 1 + 1 = 2

Cl 2 / 2 + 2 = 4

We can see that all the elements are balanced in this reaction except Cl.

So we will balance the Cl on both the side. 

Reactant Cl₂ contains only Cl. So we can balance the Cl by writing proper coefficient in front of Cl₂ .

There is 2 Cl on left side and 4 Cl on right side. By writing 2 in front of Cl₂ , we can make Cl equal on both the side.

SO₂ + 2 Cl₂ –> SOCl₂ + Cl₂O

Reactant / Product

S 1 / 1

O 2 / 1 + 1 = 2

Cl 4 / 2 + 2 = 4

Coefficients are the numbers in front of each formula. If no number is shown, a 1 is understood.

1 SO₂ + 2 Cl₂ –> 1 SOCl₂ + 1 Cl₂O

So after balancing the reaction, the coefficient of SOCl₂ is 1.

Have a look at the picture attached.

Thank you. :)