Balance the following equations. (b) P₄O₁₀ + H₂O → H₃PO₄

Key Concepts

Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing chemical equations involves ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation. This is based on the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Coefficients are used to adjust the quantities of reactants and products to achieve balance.

Molecular Formulas

Molecular formulas represent the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule. For example, P4O10 indicates that there are four phosphorus atoms and ten oxygen atoms in the compound. Understanding molecular formulas is crucial for identifying the substances involved in a reaction and for determining how they combine or react with one another.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It allows chemists to calculate the amounts of substances consumed and produced in a reaction based on balanced equations. This concept is essential for predicting yields and understanding the proportions in which reactants react to form products.