Question

Balance the equation for the reaction between bromine and aqueous iodate ion in basic solution
Br2 (aq) +IO3^-(aq) = Br- + IO4^- (aq)

Answer 1

To balance the equation, we start by balancing the elements other than hydrogen and oxygen.

We have 2 bromine atoms on the left and 1 bromine atom on the right, so we need to add a coefficient of 2 in front of the Br- on the right side of the equation:

Br2 (aq) + IO3^-(aq) = 2Br- + IO4^- (aq)

Next, we balance the oxygen atoms. On the left side, we have 3 oxygen atoms in the IO3^- ion and 4 oxygen atoms in the IO4^- ion on the right. To balance the oxygen atoms, we need to add water molecules on the left side of the equation.

Br2 (aq) + IO3^-(aq) + H2O(l) = 2Br- + IO4^- (aq)

Finally, we balance the hydrogen atoms by adding hydroxide ions (OH-) to the left side of the equation.

Br2 (aq) + IO3^-(aq) + 6OH^-(aq) = 2Br- + IO4^- (aq) + 3H2O(l)

So, the balanced equation for the reaction between bromine and aqueous iodate ion in basic solution is:

Br2 (aq) + IO3^-(aq) + 6OH^-(aq) = 2Br- + IO4^- (aq) + 3H2O(l)