To balance the chemical equation, we need to make sure that the number of each type of atom on the reactant side (left side) is equal to the number on the product side (right side). Let’s go through this step-by-step.
### Unbalanced Equation
[tex]\(SiO_2 + HF \rightarrow SiF_4 + H_2O\)[/tex]
### Step-by-Step Balancing
#### 1. Silicon (Si):
- On the reactant side, we have 1 Si in [tex]\(SiO_2\)[/tex].
- On the product side, we have 1 Si in [tex]\(SiF_4\)[/tex].
Since both sides already have 1 Si, silicon is balanced.
#### 2. Oxygen (O):
- On the reactant side, we have 2 O in [tex]\(SiO_2\)[/tex].
- On the product side, we have 1 O in [tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex].
We need to balance the oxygen atoms. If we multiply [tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex] by 2, we balance the oxygen atoms:
[tex]\(SiO_2 + HF \rightarrow SiF_4 + 2 H_2O\)[/tex].
Now, we have 2 O on both sides.
#### 3. Hydrogen (H):
- On the reactant side, we currently have 1 H in [tex]\(HF\)[/tex].
- On the product side, with 2 [tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex], we have 4 H (since 2 H_2O = 2 x 2 = 4 H).
To balance hydrogen, we need 4 H atoms on the reactant side. If we multiply [tex]\(HF\)[/tex] by 4:
[tex]\(SiO_2 + 4 HF \rightarrow SiF_4 + 2 H_2O\)[/tex].
Now, we have 4 H on both sides.
#### 4. Fluorine (F):
- On the reactant side, multiplying [tex]\(HF\)[/tex] by 4 gives us 4 F.
- On the product side, we have 4 F in [tex]\(SiF_4\)[/tex].
Both sides have 4 F, so fluorine is balanced.
### Balanced Equation
The balanced chemical equation is:
[tex]\[SiO_2 + 4 HF \rightarrow SiF_4 + 2 H_2O\][/tex]
