Question

How do you balance S8 + O2 -->SO3?

Answer 1

`S_8` + `12O_2` `rarr` `8SO_3`

Explanation:

Balancing a chemical equation is actually an exercise where the balancing atoms is basically an adherence to the law of conservation of mass in Physics.

On the left hand side of the equation, there are 8 (moles of) `S` atoms. Therefore on the right hand side, there would need to be `8` (moles of) `SO_3` molecules.

If so, on the right hand side now, there would be a total of `24` (moles of) `O` atoms. Therefore we need to balance the O atoms on the left hand side giving us `12` (moles of) `O_2` gas.