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# Balance the following chemical equation: $Zn + AgN{O_3} \to Zn{(N{O_3})_2} + Ag$

Last updated date: 20th Mar 2023
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Hint :Balanced chemical reaction: It is a chemical equation in which the number of atoms of each element in the reactant is equal to the number of atoms of that element in the product. The balancing of a chemical equation is governed by law of conservation of mass.

To balance the given chemical equation, we need to follow some steps which are given below:
Step-1: Note down the unbalanced chemical equation.
$Zn + AgN{O_3} \to Zn{(N{O_3})_2} + Ag$
Step-2: Calculate the number of atoms of each element in the reactant as well as product.
Reactant:
Number of atoms of $Zn \Rightarrow 1$
Number of atoms of $Ag \Rightarrow 1$
Number of atoms of $N \Rightarrow 1$
Number of atoms of $O \Rightarrow 3$
Product:
Number of atoms of $Zn \Rightarrow 1$
Number of atoms of $Ag \Rightarrow 1$
Number of atoms of $N \Rightarrow 2$
Number of atoms of $O \Rightarrow 6$
Step-3: As there are two atoms of nitrogen in the product whereas in the reactant, there is only one nitrogen atom. So, we need to add two as a coefficient of $AgN{O_3}$ to balance the number of nitrogen atoms.
$Zn + 2AgN{O_3} \to Zn{(N{O_3})_2} + Ag$
Step-4: Calculate the number of atoms of each element in the reactant as well as product.
Reactant:
Number of atoms of $Zn \Rightarrow 1$
Number of atoms of $Ag \Rightarrow 2$
Number of atoms of $N \Rightarrow 2$
Number of atoms of $O \Rightarrow 6$
Product:
Number of atoms of $Zn \Rightarrow 1$
Number of atoms of $Ag \Rightarrow 1$
Number of atoms of $N \Rightarrow 2$
Number of atoms of $O \Rightarrow 6$
Step-5: As there are two atoms of silver in the reactant whereas in the product, there is only one silver atom. So, we need to add two as a coefficient of $Ag$ to balance the number of silver atoms.
$Zn + 2AgN{O_3} \to Zn{(N{O_3})_2} + 2Ag$
Step-6: Calculate the number of atoms of each element in the reactant as well as product.
Reactant:
Number of atoms of $Zn \Rightarrow 1$
Number of atoms of $Ag \Rightarrow 2$
Number of atoms of $N \Rightarrow 2$
Number of atoms of $O \Rightarrow 6$
Product:
Number of atoms of $Zn \Rightarrow 1$
Number of atoms of $Ag \Rightarrow 2$
Number of atoms of $N \Rightarrow 2$
Number of atoms of $O \Rightarrow 6$
As, the number of atoms of each element in the reactant is equal to the number of atoms in the product. Therefore, the reaction is balanced.
Hence, the balanced chemical equation is $Zn + 2AgN{O_3} \to Zn{(N{O_3})_2} + 2Ag$

Note :
Ensure to check the number of atoms of each element after every step to minimize errors. The equation is always balanced by adding numbers as a coefficient to the molecules. The numbers are never added as a suffix while balancing.