Question

How would you balance the following equation: H3BO3 --> H4B6O11 + H2O?

Answer 1

`6H_3BO_3 -> H_4B_6O_11 + 7H_2O`

Explanation:

There are 6 Boron atoms in the products, so there must be 6 boron atoms on the reactant side, so `6H_6BO_3`.

There are `6 xx 3 = 18` oxygen atoms on the reactant side, so there must be 18 on the product side. There are already 11 in the `H_4B_6O_11` so there are `18 - 11 = 7` left, so there are 7 `H_2O` molecules in the products.

There are `6 xx 3 = 18` hydrogen atoms in the reactants and there are `4 + (7 xx 2) = 18` in the products, so that is balanced.

In the end we have:
`18` oxygen atoms in the reactants and `18` in the products
`6` boron atoms in the reactants and `6` in the products
`18` hydrogen atoms in the reactants and `18` in the products

so the equation is balanced.