Question

Balance the following equation:
${{{K}}_2}{{O}} + {{{H}}_2}{{O}} \to {{KOH}}$

Answer 1

Hint:Balancing chemical equations is to make the number of all the elements equal. This is done based on the law of conservation of mass. The sum masses of the reactants will be equal to the sum of masses of the products.

Complete step by step answer:
The given chemical equation is given below:
${{{K}}_2}{{O}} + {{{H}}_2}{{O}} \to {{KOH}}$
We have to balance the above equation. In the above equation, the number of elements are not equal. There is a difference in the number of potassium, oxygen and hydrogen atoms. First let consider the potassium atom. RHS have only one potassium. So we can multiply with two on RHS. By this way, the number of elements in the reactant side is equal to that in the product side. Thus the equation becomes:
${{{K}}_2}{{O}} + {{{H}}_2}{{O}} \to 2{{KOH}}$
Now, the number of potassium, oxygen and hydrogen atoms are balanced.
Thus the chemical equation is balanced.

Additional information:
A stoichiometric coefficient is placed before the symbol or chemical formula of a compound. It can be changed. It defines the number of moles of a particular molecule. While the subscripts define the number of atoms in a molecule. It cannot be changed while balancing an equation.

Note:
Chemical reaction is the phenomena in which a chemical change is taking place. A chemical change is a change in which new substances are formed. The chemical equation is the way in which chemical reaction is expressed. The reactants are the substances which are reacted initially. They are the starting materials. While the products are the substances which are formed when the reactants are reacted.