How would you balance the following equation? ?BF_3 + ?Li_2SO_3 -> ?B_2(SO_3)_3 + ?LiF?BF3+?Li2SO3→?B2(SO3)3+?LiF

1 Answer
Dylan K.
Dec 7, 2016

2BF_3+3Li_2SO_3 -> B_2(SO3)_3+6LiF2BF3+3Li2SO3→B2(SO3)3+6LiF

Explanation:

Start with a species that you can see is not present in equal quantity on each side of the equation.

Perhaps you could recognize that Boron is not present in equal quantity on both sides of the equation - fix it by making the quantity equal eachother.

2BF_3+?Li_2SO_3 -> ?B_2(SO3)_3+?LiF2BF3+?Li2SO3→?B2(SO3)3+?LiF

Notice that by doing this, we changed the number FF.

Let's make the quantity of FF species equal.

2BF_3+?Li_2SO_3 -> ?B_2(SO3)_3+6LiF2BF3+?Li2SO3→?B2(SO3)3+6LiF

You'll notice now that that we have changed the quantity of species LiLi - let's fix that.

2BF_3+3Li_2SO_3 -> ?B_2(SO3)_3+6LiF2BF3+3Li2SO3→?B2(SO3)3+6LiF

You'll notice now that all the species have equal quantities across the chemical system and that Boron Sulfite does not need a coefficient.

The balanced reaction is:

2BF_3+3Li_2SO_3 -> B_2(SO3)_3+6LiF2BF3+3Li2SO3→B2(SO3)3+6LiF

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