Question

What are the coefficients that will balance the skeleton equation below?

__P4 + __F2 -> __PF3
Responses

1, 3, 2
1, 3, 2

Reaction is Balanced
Reaction is Balanced

1, 6, 4
1, 6, 4

1, 2, 3
1, 2, 3

Answer 1

To balance the skeleton equation \( \text{P}_4 + \text{F}_2 \rightarrow \text{PF}_3 \), we need to make sure that the number of atoms of each element on the reactants side equals the number on the products side.

1. Start with the reactants:
- We have 4 phosphorus (P) atoms on the left from \( \text{P}_4 \).
- We have fluorine (F) from \( \text{F}_2 \).

2. On the products side, the formula \( \text{PF}_3 \) indicates there is 1 phosphorus atom and 3 fluorine atoms per molecule of \( \text{PF}_3 \).

3. To balance the P, since there are 4 P atoms in \( \text{P}_4 \), we will need 4 \( \text{PF}_3 \):
\[
\text{P}_4 + \text{F}_2 \rightarrow 4 \text{PF}_3
\]

4. Now, we need to balance the fluorine. Since we have 4 \( \text{PF}_3 \), this gives us:
- \( 4 \times 3 = 12 \) F atoms on the product side.
- To get 12 F atoms from \( \text{F}_2 \), we need \( 6 \text{F}_2 \):
\[
\text{P}_4 + 6 \text{F}_2 \rightarrow 4 \text{PF}_3
\]

Thus, the coefficients that will balance the equation are:
- 1 for \( \text{P}_4 \)
- 6 for \( \text{F}_2 \)
- 4 for \( \text{PF}_3 \)

So the correct answer is **1, 6, 4**.