Fill in the coefficients that will balance the following reaction: a0HClO4 + a1Pb (NO3) 3 → a2Pb (ClO4) 3 + a3HNO3

Answers:

a₀ = 3

a₁ = 1

a₂ = 1

a₃ = 3

Explanation:

To balance the reaction equation, both left and right hand sides should have same number of atoms in each element.

Given reaction is

a₀HClO₄ + a₁Pb (NO₃) ₃ → a₂Pb (ClO₄) ₃ + a₃ HNO ₃

Here,

Left Hand Side has Right Hand Side has

H = 1 atom H = 1 atom

Cl = 1 atom Cl = 3 atoms

O = 13 atoms O = 15 atom

N = 3 atoms N = 1 atom

Pb = 1 atom Pb = 1 atom

Pb is already balanced. Then others should be balanced by adding coefficients.

First step : balance the N atoms in both sides.

There are 3 N atoms in left hand side and 1 N atom in right hand side. Hence, to balance N atoms "3" should be added before HNO ₃.

Second step : balance the Cl atoms.

There are 3 Cl atoms in right hand side while 1 atom in left hand side. So, "3" should be added before HClO ₄ to balance Cl atoms in both sides.

After doing those, number of O atoms and H atoms in both sides is automatically balanced.