For the equation [tex] BaCl_2 + Na_2SO_4 \rightarrow BaSO_4 + 2 NaCl [/tex], how many chlorine atoms are on the reactants side and on the products side?

A. reactants: 1; products: 1

B. reactants: 1; products: 2

C. reactants: 2; products: 1

D. reactants: 2; products: 2



Answer :

To determine the number of chlorine atoms on both the reactants and products side of the given chemical equation, we will follow a step-by-step process:

Given chemical equation:
[tex]\[ \text{BaCl}_2 + \text{Na}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \text{BaSO}_4 + 2 \text{NaCl} \][/tex]

Step 1: Identify the number of chlorine atoms on the reactants side.

- Look at the reactants: BaCl[tex]\(_2\)[/tex] and Na[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]SO[tex]\(_4\)[/tex].
- BaCl[tex]\(_2\)[/tex] contains 2 chlorine atoms per molecule.

Therefore, the number of chlorine atoms on the reactants side is:
[tex]\[ \text{BaCl}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{ chlorine atoms} \][/tex]

Step 2: Identify the number of chlorine atoms on the products side.

- Look at the products: BaSO[tex]\(_4\)[/tex] and 2 NaCl.
- Each NaCl molecule contains 1 chlorine atom.
- Since there are 2 NaCl molecules, the total number of chlorine atoms is:
[tex]\[ 2 \times \text{NaCl} \rightarrow 2 \times 1 = 2 \text{ chlorine atoms} \][/tex]

Therefore, the number of chlorine atoms on the products side is:
[tex]\[ 2 \text{ NaCl} \rightarrow 2 \text{ chlorine atoms} \][/tex]

Summary:
- Reactants side: 2 chlorine atoms (from BaCl[tex]\(_2\)[/tex])
- Products side: 2 chlorine atoms (from 2 NaCl)

Thus, the number of chlorine atoms on both sides of the equation is:
Reactants: 2; Products: 2

The correct answer is:
[tex]\[ \text{reactants: 2; products: 2} \][/tex]