Questions: Gaseous water and solid calcium oxide are produced by the decomposition of solid calcium hydroxide. Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction.

Gaseous water and solid calcium oxide are produced by the decomposition of solid calcium hydroxide. Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction.

Transcript text: Gaseous water and solid calcium oxide are produced by the decomposition of solid calcium hydroxide. Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction.

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Identify the Reactants and Products

The problem describes the decomposition of solid calcium hydroxide. The reactants and products are:

Reactant: Solid calcium hydroxide (\(\text{Ca(OH)}_2\))
Products: Gaseous water (\(\text{H}_2\text{O(g)}\)) and solid calcium oxide (\(\text{CaO(s)}\))

Step 2: Write the Unbalanced Chemical Equation

Based on the reactants and products identified, the unbalanced chemical equation is: \[ \text{Ca(OH)}_2(s) \rightarrow \text{CaO}(s) + \text{H}_2\text{O}(g) \]

Step 3: Balance the Chemical Equation

To balance the equation, ensure that the number of each type of atom is the same on both sides of the equation. The unbalanced equation is already balanced as written:

Calcium (Ca): 1 atom on both sides
Oxygen (O): 2 atoms on both sides
Hydrogen (H): 2 atoms on both sides

Thus, the balanced chemical equation is: \[ \text{Ca(OH)}_2(s) \rightarrow \text{CaO}(s) + \text{H}_2\text{O}(g) \]