Question

Balance the following chemical equation: ${\text{N}}{{\text{a}}_2}{\text{O}} + {{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O}} \to {\text{NaOH}}$

Answer 1

If the number of each element involved in the reaction is not the same on both sides, such chemical equation is said to be unbalanced. For balancing a chemical equation, we need to equalize the number of atoms of each element in order to obey the law of conservation of mass.

Complete step by step solution:
- The substance that undergoes a chemical change in the reaction is known as the reactants and new substance formed during the reaction is known as product. A chemical equation represents a chemical reaction. The total mass of the elements of products of chemical reaction has to be equal to the total mass of the elements of the reactants. So the number of atoms of each element remains the same before and after the reaction.
- To balance a chemical equation list the number of atoms of different elements present in the unbalanced equation. To equalize the number of atoms it must be remembered that we cannot alter the formulae of the compounds or elements. We can put a coefficient to balance the number of atoms. This method of balancing is called hit and trial method.
- As given in the following question, we have two sodium atoms, two oxygen atoms and two hydrogen atoms on the reactants side. On the other hand, we have one sodium atom, one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom on the product side. So simply by putting coefficient two on the product side we can equalize the number of all the elements involved in the reaction. Balanced chemical equation of the given reaction will be:
${\text{N}}{{\text{a}}_2}{\text{O}} + {{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O}} \to 2{\text{NaOH}}$

Note: Balancing a chemical equation is based upon the law of conservation of mass. An unbalanced chemical equation is also known as skeletal chemical equation.