Question

Question #d8b50

Answer 1

No, the equation is not balanced, because you do not have the same number of atoms for each element on both the reactants', and the products' side.

`CO -> C + O_2`

You have 1 `"C"` atom on the reactants' side, and 1 on the products' side, so `"C"` is balanced. However, you only have 1 `"O"_2` atom on the reactants' side, and 2 on the products' side, so you need to double the number of `"O"_2` atoms on the left side.

`2CO -> C + O_2`

Oxygen is now balanced, but you have disrupted the carbon balance. Since 2 `"C"` atoms are now on the left side, you need to double the number of `"C"` atoms on the right side.

`2CO -> 2C + O_2`

As a side note, I believe the more suited equation for this reaction is

`C_((s)) + O_(2(g)) -> CO_(2(g))`

You could practice your chemical equations balancing skills on the first one as well.

Here is an example of an equation which is balanced, plus a discussion of why equations must be balanced and strategies you can use to balance an equation.

video from: Noel Pauller