Balance the following the chemical equation:
_ Mg + _ F2 → _ MgF2
a
2:1:1
b
1:2:1
c
1:1:1
d
1:1:2
The correct balanced chemical equation is:
1 Mg + 1 F2 → 1 MgF2
Therefore, the correct option is c) 1:1:1.
To balance the chemical equation: Mg + F2 → MgF2, you need to ensure that both sides of the equation have an equal number of atoms for each element.
First, let's count the number of atoms on each side of the equation:
On the left side (reactants):
Mg: 1 Mg atom
F: 2 F atoms
On the right side (products):
Mg: 1 Mg atom
F: 2 F atoms
Now, compare the number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation. We can see that the number of Mg atoms is already balanced, but the number of F atoms is not. To balance the F atoms, we need to have the same number on each side of the equation.
Since there are 2 F atoms on the left side (reactants) and only 1 F atom on the right side (products), we need to add a coefficient in front of MgF2 on the right side to balance the equation.
The correct balanced equation is: Mg + F2 → MgF2
Therefore, the answer is:
c) 1:1:1
To balance a chemical equation, you need to ensure that there are an equal number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation.
In this case, the equation is:
_ Mg + _ F2 → _ MgF2
Let's start by counting the number of atoms of each element on each side of the equation:
On the left side:
- Magnesium (Mg): There is 1 magnesium atom.
- Fluorine (F): There are 0 fluorine atoms.
On the right side:
- Magnesium (Mg): There is 1 magnesium atom.
- Fluorine (F): There are 2 fluorine atoms.
As you can see, the number of fluorine atoms does not match on both sides of the equation. To balance it, you need to adjust the coefficients (the numbers in front of each element or compound).
Now, let's go through each option to find the balanced coefficients:
a) 2:1:1
- If we use this option, the balanced equation would be: 2Mg + F2 → 2MgF.
This equation has 2 magnesium atoms and 1 fluorine atom on the left side, but only 2 magnesium atoms and 1 fluorine atom on the right side. Therefore, it is not balanced.
b) 1:2:1
- If we use this option, the balanced equation would be: Mg + 2F2 → MgF2.
This equation has 1 magnesium atom and 4 fluorine atoms on the left side, and 1 magnesium atom and 2 fluorine atoms on the right side. Therefore, it is not balanced.
c) 1:1:1
- If we use this option, the balanced equation would be: Mg + F2 → MgF2.
This equation has 1 magnesium atom and 2 fluorine atoms on the left side, and 1 magnesium atom and 2 fluorine atoms on the right side. Therefore, it is balanced.
d) 1:1:2
- If we use this option, the balanced equation would be: Mg + F2 → 2MgF2.
This equation has 1 magnesium atom and 2 fluorine atoms on the left side, but 2 magnesium atoms and 4 fluorine atoms on the right side. Therefore, it is not balanced.
Therefore, the correct answer is c) 1:1:1.