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Lexi is balancing equations. She is finding one equation to be very difficult to balance.

Which explains how to balance the equation [tex]$ZnSO _4+ Li _2 CO _3 \rightarrow ZnCO _3+ Li _2 SO _4$[/tex]?

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



Answer :

GinnyAnswer
To balance the chemical equation [tex]\( \text{ZnSO}_4 + \text{Li}_2\text{CO}_3 \rightarrow \text{ZnCO}_3 + \text{Li}_2\text{SO}_4 \)[/tex], we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

1. Identify the number of atoms of each element in the reactants:
- Zn: 1 (from ZnSO[tex]\(_4\)[/tex])
- S: 1 (from ZnSO[tex]\(_4\)[/tex])
- O: 4 (from ZnSO[tex]\(_4\)[/tex]) + 3 (from Li[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]CO[tex]\(_3\)[/tex]) = 7
- Li: 2 (from Li[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]CO[tex]\(_3\)[/tex])
- C: 1 (from Li[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]CO[tex]\(_3\)[/tex])

2. Identify the number of atoms of each element in the products:
- Zn: 1 (from ZnCO[tex]\(_3\)[/tex])
- C: 1 (from ZnCO[tex]\(_3\)[/tex])
- O: 3 (from ZnCO[tex]\(_3\)[/tex]) + 4 (from Li[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]SO[tex]\(_4\)[/tex]) = 7
- Li: 2 (from Li[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]SO[tex]\(_4\)[/tex])
- S: 1 (from Li[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]SO[tex]\(_4\)[/tex])

3. Compare the number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation:
- Zn: Reactants = 1, Products = 1
- S: Reactants = 1, Products = 1
- O: Reactants = 7, Products = 7
- Li: Reactants = 2, Products = 2
- C: Reactants = 1, Products = 1

Since the number of atoms of each element is equal on both the reactant and product sides, the equation is already balanced as written.

Thus, the correct explanation is:
Atoms in the equation are already in balance.

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