Can you put a higher reaction coefficient when balancing equations?

Question

Can you put a higher reaction coefficient when balancing equations?

For example, for $S O_{2} + O_{2} \to S O_{3}$ $SO_2 + O_2 -> SO_3$ the balanced equation is $2 S O_{2} + O_{2} \to 2 S O_{3}$ $2SO_2 + O_2 -> 2SO_3$ but can it also be $4 S O_{2} + O_{2} \to 4 S O_{3}$ $4SO_2 + O_2 -> 4SO_3$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2017-10-06T04:24:35

Well we usually use the simplest whole number ratio.....

Explanation:

And thus we want....

$2 S O_{2} + O_{2} (g) \to 2 S O_{3} (g)$ $2SO_2 + O_2(g) rarr 2SO_3(g)$

But $4 S O_{2} + O_{2} (g) \to 4 S O_{3} (g)$ $4SO_2 + O_2(g) rarr 4SO_3(g)$ IS CLEARLY unbalanced with respect to oxygen....Do you agree? And thus this cannot be accepted as a representation of chemical reality.

Some chemists like to introduce half-integral coefficients into the equation.

$S O_{2} (g) + \frac{1}{2} O_{2} \to S O_{3} (g)$ $SO_2(g) + 1/2O_2 rarr SO_3(g)$

Here, I find that the half-integral coefficient makes assessment of the stoichiometry, the arithmetic, a bit easier. Every stoichiometric equation MUST be absolutely balanced with respect to mass and charge.

And see this [old answer.](https://socratic.org/questions/h2-1-2-o2-h2o-is-it-right-or-not)

Answer 2 · 2017-10-07T02:35:12

Yes, you can put all the reaction coefficient higher.

So, "...can it also be $4 S O_{2} + O_{2} \to 4 S O_{3}$ $4SO_2 + O_2 → 4SO_3$ ?"

No, it can't because the equation is not balanced respect to oxygen.

Explanation:

Once you have correctly balanced the equation:

$2 S O_{2} + O_{2} \to 2 S O_{3}$ $2SO_2 + O_2 → 2SO_3$

you can use any multiple of all coefficients, as in:

$4 S O_{2} + 2 O_{2} \to 4 S O_{3}$ $4SO_2 + 2 O_2 → 4SO_3$ , or in:
$6 S O_{2} + 3 O_{2} \to 6 S O_{3}$ $6SO_2 + 3 O_2 → 6SO_3$ , etc.

given that the equation remains balanced.

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Can you put a higher reaction coefficient when balancing equations?

For example, for $S O_{2} + O_{2} \to S O_{3}$ $SO_2 + O_2 -> SO_3$ the balanced equation is $2 S O_{2} + O_{2} \to 2 S O_{3}$ $2SO_2 + O_2 -> 2SO_3$ but can it also be $4 S O_{2} + O_{2} \to 4 S O_{3}$ $4SO_2 + O_2 -> 4SO_3$ ?

2 Answers

Explanation:

Explanation:

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Science

Math

Humanities

... and beyond

Can you put a higher reaction coefficient when balancing equations?

For example, for SO_2 + O_2 -> SO_3SO2+O2→SO3SO_2 + O_2 -> SO_3 the balanced equation is 2SO_2 + O_2 -> 2SO_32SO2+O2→2SO32SO_2 + O_2 -> 2SO_3 but can it also be 4SO_2 + O_2 -> 4SO_34SO2+O2→4SO34SO_2 + O_2 -> 4SO_3 ?

2 Answers

Explanation:

Explanation:

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For example, for $S O_{2} + O_{2} \to S O_{3}$ $SO_2 + O_2 -> SO_3$ the balanced equation is $2 S O_{2} + O_{2} \to 2 S O_{3}$ $2SO_2 + O_2 -> 2SO_3$ but can it also be $4 S O_{2} + O_{2} \to 4 S O_{3}$ $4SO_2 + O_2 -> 4SO_3$ ?