Question

What is the balanced equation for:
$SiC{{l}_{4}}+{{H}_{2}}O\to Si{{O}_{2}}+HCl$

Answer 1

Hint: On the reactant side, silicon chloride and water are present, and on the product side silicon dioxide and hydrochloric acid are present. First, balance the silicon and chlorine atoms, then balance the hydrogen and oxygen atoms.

Complete answer:
To balance the equation means to make the number of atoms on the reactant and product side the same. The given reaction is:
$SiC{{l}_{4}}+{{H}_{2}}O\to Si{{O}_{2}}+HCl$
On the reactant side, silicon chloride and water are present, and on the product side, silicon dioxide and hydrochloric acid are present. So, there are four elements involved in this reaction, i.e., silicon, chlorine, hydrogen, and carbon.
First, balance the silicon and chlorine atoms, then balance the hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
In the reaction, the number of silicon atoms on the reactant side is 1 and on the product side is also 1, so no changes have to be done.
The number of chlorine atoms on the reactant side is 4 and on the product side is 1, so we can multiply hydrochloric acid by 4. The reaction will be:
$SiC{{l}_{4}}+{{H}_{2}}O\to Si{{O}_{2}}+4HCl$
Now, the number of hydrogen atoms on the reactant side is 2 and on the product side is 4, so multiply the water by 2. The reaction will be:
$SiC{{l}_{4}}+2{{H}_{2}}O\to Si{{O}_{2}}+4HCl$
Now, the number of oxygen atoms on the reactant side is 2 and on the product side is also 2. So the final balanced reaction is:
$SiC{{l}_{4}}+2{{H}_{2}}O\to Si{{O}_{2}}+4HCl$

Note:
If the reaction is acidic, then we balance the hydrogen atoms in the reaction by hydrogen ions and if the reaction is in a basic medium, the hydrogen and oxygen atoms are balanced with hydroxyl ions and water molecules.