When the equation KCIO3 -> KCI + O2
is properly balanced, which of the following terms appears?
2 KCI
3 KCIO3
3 KCIO3
202
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The equation you’re referring to is the decomposition reaction of potassium chlorate (KClO₃), which decomposes into potassium chloride (KCl) and oxygen (O₂) when heated. The correctly balanced equation for this reaction is:
[
2 \text{KClO}_3 \rightarrow 2 \text{KCl} + 3 \text{O}_2
]
In this equation, the coefficients are necessary to balance the number of atoms of each element on both sides. Let’s break it down:
Step 1: Write the unbalanced equation
The unbalanced equation is:
[
\text{KClO}_3 \rightarrow \text{KCl} + \text{O}_2
]
This shows that one molecule of potassium chlorate decomposes into potassium chloride and oxygen.
Step 2: Balance the potassium (K) atoms
On the left, there’s 1 K atom from KClO₃. On the right, KCl has 1 K atom. So, the K atoms are balanced.
Step 3: Balance the chlorine (Cl) atoms
On the left, there is 1 Cl atom in KClO₃. On the right, there is 1 Cl atom in KCl. So, the Cl atoms are also balanced.
Step 4: Balance the oxygen (O) atoms
On the left, each KClO₃ molecule contains 3 O atoms. On the right, O₂ has 2 O atoms per molecule. To balance the oxygen atoms, we need 3 O₂ molecules, which gives us 6 O atoms on the right. So, we need 2 KClO₃ molecules on the left to match the oxygen atoms on both sides.
Thus, the balanced equation is:
[
2 \text{KClO}_3 \rightarrow 2 \text{KCl} + 3 \text{O}_2
]
Key Points
- 2 KCl appears in the balanced equation, meaning that there are 2 KCl molecules produced.
- The coefficient of 2 KClO₃ ensures that oxygen is balanced.
So, to answer your question, the correct term that appears in the balanced equation is “2 KCl” and “3 O₂.”
Now, I’ll generate an image to illustrate this balanced equation.
Here is the image showing the balanced chemical equation for the decomposition of potassium chlorate. It illustrates the breakdown into potassium chloride and oxygen with the correct coefficients. Let me know if you’d like further details or additional clarification!
