How do you balance Ag2OAg+O2?

1 Answer
Jan 16, 2016

2Ag2O4Ag+O2

Explanation:

Balancing a chemical equation consists of changing the coefficient of molecules in order to make the number of atoms equal on both side.

Consider the given equation:

Ag2OAg+O2

Notice how there is only one O on the reactants side, but two on the products side. This can be fixed by multiplying the reactant by 2.

2Ag2OAg+O2

Now that the oxygen atoms are balanced, all that remains is the silver. There are now four Ag on the reactant side and only one on the product side, which can be remedied with a coefficient of four on the products side.

2Ag2O4Ag+O2

This is completely balanced.