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Chemistry question help!

Sulfuric acid, H2SO4, reacts with ammonia, NH3, to form ammonia sulfate, (NH4)2SO4.

(a.) Write the word equation for this reaction.

(b.) Write a balanced symbol equation for this reaction.

(c.) In the balanced equation, how many atoms are there in the reactants?


^ Please help me on the question above, with a guided worked answer preferably.
How can I balance equations?

Thanks for your help, much appreciated. :smile:
Reply 1
H2SO4 + NH3 ---> (NH4)2SO4

a) Sulphuric Acid + Ammonia ---> Ammonium Sulphate

b) Using this:
H2SO4 + NH3 ---> (NH4)2SO4
Total of Reactants:
H=5
S=1
O=4
Total for the Products:
H=8
N=2
S=1
O=4

We need an even balance on either side so:

H2SO4 + 2NH3 --> (NH4) 2SO4

c) Basically the number of moles of that reactant that has been used; just look at the numbers before the reactant, so:

H2SO4 --- No number so 1 (as you are only using it once)
2NH3 --- 2 (as it has a two before it)


:wink:
(edited 8 years ago)
* Ammonium Sulphate
1 mol Sulphuric acid reacts with 2 mol Ammonia to form 1 mol Ammonium Sulphate.
(edited 8 years ago)
Reply 3
Original post by Abz98
H2SO4 + NH3 ---> (NH4)2SO4

a) Sulphuric Acid + Ammonia ---> Ammonia Sulphate

b) Using this:
H2SO4 + NH3 ---> (NH4)2SO4
Total of Reactants:
H=5
S=1
O=4
Total for the Products:
H=8
N=2
S=1
O=4

We need an even balance on either side so:


Original post by EricPiphany
* Ammonium Sulphate
1 mol Sulphuric acid reacts with 2 mol Ammonia to form 1 mol Ammonium Sulphate.


Please tell me how to balance the equation, thanks.
Start with the S or N. One S on both sides so the product and Sulphuric acid is in an one to one ratio. Two N in product and one in Ammonia so ratio of Ammonia to product is two to one.
This ain't gonna be much help. Wait for someone else.
(edited 8 years ago)
Reply 5
Original post by Awais_
Please tell me how to balance the equation, thanks.


I was never good at explaining how to balance haha..

But...

You basically want to match the number of atoms on either side - so that they are the same. It's basically trial and error.
In order to balance, you want the same number of atoms of each element, on each side of the equation. An example of an incorrectly balanced equation would be: H2 + O2 ---> H2O

As you can see, the number of atoms is not equal on both sides of the equation, therefore you've gotta change the number of atoms. In the formation of water this is relatively simple:
2H2 + O2 ---> 2H2O

That's ideally how you'd like to balance.

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