Question

Give a balanced equation for the following reactions? Ozone and mercury.

Answer 1

We know that balanced chemical equations are the chemical equations in which the number of atoms of all elements is equal in both product and reactant side of the reaction. Here, we have to write the balanced chemical equation of reaction of mercury and ozone.

Complete step by step answer:
Let’s first discuss ozone and mercury in detail. Ozone is a molecule which consists of three oxygen atoms. The molecular formula of ozone is ${{\rm{O}}_{\rm{3}}}$. Ozone is present in the atmosphere at a height of about twenty kilometers. The layer of ozone protects the earth’s surface from the UV radiation of the sun which is very harmful to us.
Mercury is the metal only metal which exists in liquid state at room temperature. Its chemical formula is Hg.
Let’s discuss the reaction of ozone and mercury. Mercury is used in laboratory tests to detect the presence of ozone. We know that ozone is an oxidizing agent and it undergoes reaction with
Mercury to form mercuric oxide $\left( {{\rm{H}}{{\rm{g}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{O}}} \right)$. Due to the formation of mercuric oxide, mercury loses its meniscus and sticks on the glass wall. This is termed as tailing of mercury. The balanced chemical equation of reaction of mercury and ozone is,
$2{\rm{Hg}} + {{\rm{O}}_3} \to {\rm{H}}{{\rm{g}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{O}} + {{\rm{O}}_2}$
The above chemical equation is a balanced chemical equation as the number of atoms of mercury and oxygen is equal in both sides (product and reactant side) of the reaction.

Note: Always remember that all chemical equations must be balanced so that the law of conservation of mass is followed. According to this law, the total mass of the products is the same as the total mass of the reactants. This law also states that neither creation nor destroying of matter is possible.