Questions: Balance the chemical equation below using the smallest possible whole number stoichiometric coefficients. N2(g)+H2(g) rightarrow NH3(g)

Balance the chemical equation below using the smallest possible whole number stoichiometric coefficients.
N2(g)+H2(g) rightarrow NH3(g)

Transcript text: Balance the chemical equation below using the smallest possible whole number stoichiometric coefficients. \[ \mathrm{N}_{2}(\mathrm{~g})+\mathrm{H}_{2}(\mathrm{~g}) \rightarrow \mathrm{NH}_{3}(\mathrm{~g}) \]

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Write the Unbalanced Equation

The given chemical equation is: \[ \mathrm{N}_{2}(\mathrm{~g}) + \mathrm{H}_{2}(\mathrm{~g}) \rightarrow \mathrm{NH}_{3}(\mathrm{~g}) \]

Step 2: Identify the Number of Atoms of Each Element

Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation:

Reactants: \( \mathrm{N}_{2} \) has 2 nitrogen atoms, \( \mathrm{H}_{2} \) has 2 hydrogen atoms.
Products: \( \mathrm{NH}_{3} \) has 1 nitrogen atom and 3 hydrogen atoms.

Step 3: Balance Nitrogen Atoms

To balance the nitrogen atoms, we need 2 nitrogen atoms on the product side. Therefore, we place a coefficient of 2 in front of \( \mathrm{NH}_{3} \): \[ \mathrm{N}_{2}(\mathrm{~g}) + \mathrm{H}_{2}(\mathrm{~g}) \rightarrow 2\mathrm{NH}_{3}(\mathrm{~g}) \]

Step 4: Balance Hydrogen Atoms

Now, we have 6 hydrogen atoms on the product side (since \( 2 \times 3 = 6 \)). To balance the hydrogen atoms, we need 3 molecules of \( \mathrm{H}_{2} \) on the reactant side: \[ \mathrm{N}_{2}(\mathrm{~g}) + 3\mathrm{H}_{2}(\mathrm{~g}) \rightarrow 2\mathrm{NH}_{3}(\mathrm{~g}) \]

Step 5: Verify the Balance

Check that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation: