Question

Write balanced chemical equations for the following word equation:
Zinc sulphide +Oxygen $\longrightarrow$ Zinc oxide +Sulphur dioxide

Answer 1

Balanced chemical equations for zinc and sulphur dioxide are formed due to the reactions between zinc sulphide and oxygen. Always check whether the number of atoms of the reactant side is matching with the product side.

Complete step by step answer:

Zinc sulphide (Zns) and oxygen are the reactants in the provided reaction, whereas zinc oxide ( ZnO) and sulphur dioxide are the products.An equation is only assumed to be balanced when the atoms involved in the reaction are the same in both the reactant component and the product component.

To produce zinc oxide and sulphur dioxide, zinc sulphide reacts with oxygen at a temperature of $800-1000^\circ C$, this reaction takes place.
$Zns+O_2 \longrightarrow ZnO+ SO_2$

On the reactant side, when the above equation is tested, 1 atom of Zn, 1 atom of S and 2 atoms of O are present, while on the product side, 1 atom of Zn, 1 atom of S and 3 atoms of O are present.

As the oxygen values are not the same on both sides, the reaction given above is not balanced.

Therefore, some improvements as seen in the following balanced equation are made to make it balanced.
$2Zns+3O_2 \longrightarrow 2ZnO+ 2SO_2$

When the above equation is analysed, it has 2 atoms of Zn on the reactant side, 2 atoms of S and 6 atoms of O on the reactant side, while Zn atoms, 2 atoms of S and 6 atoms of O on the product side. The balanced chemical equation for the reaction given is equal, as both sides are equal.

Therefore the balanced chemical reaction for the given word equation is
$2Zns+3O_2 \longrightarrow 2ZnO+ 2SO_2$

Note:
A redox reaction can be defined as a chemical reaction in which electrons are transferred between two reactants participating in it. This transfer of electrons can be identified by observing the changes in the oxidation states of the reacting species