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Question: Silicon dioxide reacts with carbon to produce \[{\text{SiC}}\]and carbon monoxide. How do you write ...

Silicon dioxide reacts with carbon to produce SiC{\text{SiC}}and carbon monoxide. How do you write the balanced equation for this reaction?

Explanation

Solution

Steps used to the balanced chemical equation are as follows:
1. Write the given chemical equation.
2. Count all atoms of elements on both the side of the reaction.
3. First balance the element which is present in only one compound on reactant as well as product.
4. Then balance the remaining elements which are found in more than one compound.
5. Count all atoms on the reactants and product side to verify whether all are balanced or not.

Complete step-by-step answer: The molecular formula of Silicon dioxide is SiO2{\text{Si}}{{\text{O}}_2}, carbon monoxide is CO{\text{CO}}.
The stepwise balancing of the given reaction is as follows:To balance the chemical equation the first step is to write the chemical equation.The chemical equation for the reaction between Silicon dioxide reacts with carbon to produce SiC{\text{SiC}}and carbon monoxide is as follows:
SiO2 +  C→ SiC  +  CO{\text{Si}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{ + }}\,{\text{C}} \to \,{\text{SiC}}\,{\text{ + }}\,{\text{CO}}
Now, count each type of atom present on both sides of the reaction.
SiO2     +       C     →     SiC       +       CO{\text{Si}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}\,\,\,\,{\text{ + }}\,\,\,\,\,\,{\text{C}}\,\,\,\,\, \to \,\,\,\,\,{\text{SiC}}\,\,\,\,\,\,{\text{ + }}\,\,\,\,\,\,{\text{CO}}
1Si     1C   2O            1Si   2C 1O{\text{1Si}}\,\,\,\,\,{\text{1C}}\,\,\,2{\text{O}}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,1{\text{Si}}\,\,\,2{\text{C 1O}}
The numbers of silicon on the reactant as well as on the product side are the same hence, no need to balance it.Now, balance oxygen as there is two oxygen on the reactant side but one on the product side. Hence, multiply CO{\text{CO}}by 2 and carbon on the reactant side by 3.
SiO2     +       3C     →     SiC       +       2CO{\text{Si}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}\,\,\,\,{\text{ + }}\,\,\,\,\,\,3{\text{C}}\,\,\,\,\, \to \,\,\,\,\,{\text{SiC}}\,\,\,\,\,\,{\text{ + }}\,\,\,\,\,\,2{\text{CO}}
1Si     3C     2O              1Si       3C    2O{\text{1Si}}\,\,\,\,\,3{\text{C}}\,\,\,\,\,2{\text{O}}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,1{\text{Si}}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,3{\text{C}}\,\,\,{\text{ 2O}}
Here, carbon atoms on both sides are balanced.Here, we can see that after balancing carbon atoms, all other atoms also get balanced.
Thus, the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between silicon dioxide and carbon to produce SiC{\text{SiC}}and carbon monoxide is as follows:
SiO2  +   3C   →  SiC   +    2CO{\text{Si}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}\,{\text{ + }}\,\,3{\text{C}}\,\,\, \to \,\,{\text{SiC}}\,\,{\text{ + }}\,\,\,2{\text{CO}}

Note: