Question

_Ag2O = _Ag+_O2
Find the coefficients to make both sides equal

Answer 1

To balance the chemical equation \( \text{Ag}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{Ag} + \text{O}_2 \), we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element on the left side equals the number on the right side.

1. Write down the unbalanced equation:
\[
\text{Ag}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{Ag} + \text{O}_2
\]

2. Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides:
- Left: 2 Ag, 1 O
- Right: 1 Ag, 2 O

3. Start by balancing the silver (Ag) atoms:
- To balance the 2 Ag on the left, we put a coefficient of 2 in front of Ag on the right:
\[
\text{Ag}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 2\text{Ag} + \text{O}_2
\]

4. Now, let's count the elements again:
- Left: 2 Ag, 1 O
- Right: 2 Ag, 2 O

5. The oxygen (O) is not balanced. To balance the oxygen, we put a coefficient of \( \frac{1}{2} \) in front of \(\text{O}_2\) on the left side:
\[
\text{Ag}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 2\text{Ag} + \frac{1}{2}\text{O}_2
\]

6. To avoid using fractions, we can multiply the entire equation by 2 to get whole numbers:
\[
2\text{Ag}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 4\text{Ag} + \text{O}_2
\]

Now, both sides are balanced:
- Left: 4 Ag, 2 O
- Right: 4 Ag, 2 O

The balanced equation is:
\[
\boxed{2\text{Ag}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 4\text{Ag} + \text{O}_2}
\]