To balance the chemical equation for the decomposition of silver(I) oxide (Ag₂O), you want to ensure that the number of each type of atom is the same on both sides of the equation.
The unbalanced equation is:
\[ 2 \text{Ag}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{Ag} + \text{O}_2 \]
Step 1: Count the atoms on both sides
-
Left side (reactants):
- Ag: 2 x 2 = 4
- O: 2 x 1 = 2
-
Right side (products):
- Ag: 1 (yet to be determined)
- O: 2 (in \(\text{O}_2\))
Step 2: Write the balanced equation
To balance the silver (Ag) atoms, we will need 4 Ag atoms on the right side. Therefore, we place a coefficient of 4 in front of Ag:
\[ 2 \text{Ag}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 4 \text{Ag} + \text{O}_2 \]
Step 3: Confirm the atom balance
Now we check the counts again:
-
Left side:
- Ag: 4
- O: 2
-
Right side:
- Ag: 4
- O: 2
Final Balanced Equation
The balanced equation is:
\[ 2 \text{Ag}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 4 \text{Ag} + \text{O}_2 \]
This equation correctly represents the conservation of mass, with the same number of each type of atom on both sides.
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