When analyzing chemical reactions, it’s essential to verify whether they are balanced. A balanced equation ensures that the law of conservation of mass is upheld, meaning the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation. Let’s examine the reaction:
K + Br\u2082 \u2192 2KBr
This reaction involves potassium (K) reacting with bromine (Br\u2082) to produce potassium bromide (KBr). To determine if the equation is balanced, we’ll count the number of atoms for each element on both sides.
Step 1: Count the Atoms on the Reactant Side
- Potassium (K): There is 1 atom of potassium.
- Bromine (Br): Bromine exists as a diatomic molecule (Br\u2082), so there are 2 bromine atoms.
Step 2: Count the Atoms on the Product Side
- Potassium (K): The product contains 2 molecules of potassium bromide (2KBr), so there are 2 potassium atoms.
- Bromine (Br): In 2KBr, there are also 2 bromine atoms.
Step 3: Compare the Reactants and Products
- Potassium (K): 1 atom on the reactant side, 2 atoms on the product side.
- Bromine (Br): 2 atoms on both sides.
The potassium atoms are not balanced. To fix this, we need to adjust the coefficient of potassium (K) on the reactant side. By placing a coefficient of 2 in front of K, the equation becomes:
2K + Br\u2082 \u2192 2KBr
Step 4: Verify the Balanced Equation
- Reactants:
- Potassium (K): 2 atoms
- Bromine (Br): 2 atoms
- Products:
- Potassium (K): 2 atoms
- Bromine (Br): 2 atoms
Now, the number of atoms for each element is equal on both sides, satisfying the law of conservation of mass.
The corrected equation:
2K + Br\u2082 \u2192 2KBr
is balanced. Each side contains 2 potassium atoms and 2 bromine atoms. This ensures that the reaction adheres to the fundamental principles of chemistry.