Question

Silicon dioxide reacts with carbon to produce \[{\text{SiC}}\]and carbon monoxide. How do you write the balanced equation for this reaction?

Answer 1

Hint:Steps used to the balanced chemical equation are as follows:
1. Write the given chemical equation.
2. Count all atoms of elements on both the side of the reaction.
3. First balance the element which is present in only one compound on reactant as well as product.
4. Then balance the remaining elements which are found in more than one compound.
5. Count all atoms on the reactants and product side to verify whether all are balanced or not.

Complete step-by-step answer:The molecular formula of Silicon dioxide is \[{\text{Si}}{{\text{O}}_2}\], carbon monoxide is \[{\text{CO}}\].
The stepwise balancing of the given reaction is as follows:To balance the chemical equation the first step is to write the chemical equation.The chemical equation for the reaction between Silicon dioxide reacts with carbon to produce \[{\text{SiC}}\]and carbon monoxide is as follows:
\[{\text{Si}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{ + }}\,{\text{C}} \to \,{\text{SiC}}\,{\text{ + }}\,{\text{CO}}\]
Now, count each type of atom present on both sides of the reaction.
\[{\text{Si}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}\,\,\,\,{\text{ + }}\,\,\,\,\,\,{\text{C}}\,\,\,\,\, \to \,\,\,\,\,{\text{SiC}}\,\,\,\,\,\,{\text{ + }}\,\,\,\,\,\,{\text{CO}}\]
\[{\text{1Si}}\,\,\,\,\,{\text{1C}}\,\,\,2{\text{O}}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,1{\text{Si}}\,\,\,2{\text{C 1O}}\]
The numbers of silicon on the reactant as well as on the product side are the same hence, no need to balance it.Now, balance oxygen as there is two oxygen on the reactant side but one on the product side. Hence, multiply \[{\text{CO}}\]by 2 and carbon on the reactant side by 3.
\[{\text{Si}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}\,\,\,\,{\text{ + }}\,\,\,\,\,\,3{\text{C}}\,\,\,\,\, \to \,\,\,\,\,{\text{SiC}}\,\,\,\,\,\,{\text{ + }}\,\,\,\,\,\,2{\text{CO}}\]
\[{\text{1Si}}\,\,\,\,\,3{\text{C}}\,\,\,\,\,2{\text{O}}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,1{\text{Si}}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,3{\text{C}}\,\,\,{\text{ 2O}}\]
Here, carbon atoms on both sides are balanced.Here, we can see that after balancing carbon atoms, all other atoms also get balanced.
Thus, the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between silicon dioxide and carbon to produce \[{\text{SiC}}\]and carbon monoxide is as follows:
\[{\text{Si}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}\,{\text{ + }}\,\,3{\text{C}}\,\,\, \to \,\,{\text{SiC}}\,\,{\text{ + }}\,\,\,2{\text{CO}}\]

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