Balance the following the chemical equation:

Question

_Na2O + _CaBr2 arrow _NaBr +_CaO

a
1:2:1:1
b
1:1:1:2
c
1:1:2:1
d
2:1:1:1

Answer 1

To balance the chemical equation \( \text{Na}_2\text{O} + \text{CaBr}_2 \rightarrow \text{NaBr} + \text{CaO} \), we need to ensure that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

1. Write the unbalanced equation: \[ \text{Na}_2\text{O} + \text{CaBr}_2 \rightarrow \text{NaBr} + \text{CaO} \]

2. Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides:

   • Left side:
     • Na: 2
     • O: 1
     • Ca: 1
     • Br: 2
   • Right side:
     • Na: 1
     • O: 1
     • Ca: 1
     • Br: 1

3. Balance sodium (Na) first: We have 2 Na on the left side and 1 Na on the right side, so we need 2 NaBr on the right side. \[ \text{Na}_2\text{O} + \text{CaBr}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{NaBr} + \text{CaO} \]

4. Recount the atoms:

   • Left side:
     • Na: 2
     • O: 1
     • Ca: 1
     • Br: 2
   • Right side:
     • Na: 2 (from 2 NaBr)
     • O: 1
     • Ca: 1
     • Br: 2 (from 2 NaBr)

5. All elements are balanced.

Thus, the balanced equation is: \[ \text{Na}_2\text{O} + \text{CaBr}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{NaBr} + \text{CaO} \]

The coefficients for the balanced equation are:

• Na2O: 1
• CaBr2: 1
• NaBr: 2
• CaO: 1

Therefore, the balanced equation corresponds to option c (1:1:2:1).