Question

Lexi is balancing equations. She is finding one equation to be very difficult to balance. Which explains how to balance the equation ZnSO4 + Li2CO3 → ZnCO3 + Li2SO4?

One reactant and one product needs the coefficient 2.
The products both need a 3 coefficient.
The reactants both need a 2 coefficient.
Atoms in the equation are already in balance.

Answer 1

To balance the equation ZnSO4 + Li2CO3 → ZnCO3 + Li2SO4, let's analyze the equation step by step:

1. **Count the atoms of each element on both sides of the equation:**

- **Reactants:**
- Zn: 1 (from ZnSO4)
- S: 1 (from ZnSO4)
- O: 4 (from ZnSO4) + 3 (from Li2CO3) = 7 total
- Li: 2 (from Li2CO3)
- C: 1 (from Li2CO3)

- **Products:**
- Zn: 1 (from ZnCO3)
- C: 1 (from ZnCO3)
- O: 3 (from ZnCO3) + 4 (from Li2SO4) = 7 total
- Li: 2 (from Li2SO4)
- S: 1 (from Li2SO4)

2. **Now compare the number of atoms of each element on both sides:**

- Zn: 1 on both sides
- S: 1 on both sides
- O: 7 on both sides
- Li: 2 on both sides
- C: 1 on both sides

3. **Identify the balanced components:**
The counts show that all elements are already balanced as they appear in equal quantities on both sides of the equation.

Based on this analysis, **the correct explanation for the balancing is:** "Atoms in the equation are already in balance."

Therefore, no coefficients are needed to balance this equation; it is already balanced as written.