Question

Write the balanced equation for the hydrogen + chlorine → hydrogen chloride.

Answer 1

Hint: To write the chemical equations and to later balance them, the first step is to understand the statement and write the equation using their respective symbols and follow certain rules to balance the equation. The number of atoms of reactants should be equal to the number of atoms of the products formed after the successful completion of a reaction. An unbalanced equation is said to have an unequal number of atoms on either side of the reaction.

Complete answer:
The two very important rules to be followed are as follows:
Identify each element found in the equation. The number of atoms of each type of atom must be the same on each side of the equation once it has been balanced.
The net charge must be the same on each side of the equation once it has been balanced.
Keeping the rules in mind, let us proceed in translating the given statements into chemical equations and balancing them.
The chemical symbol of hydrogen is $H$ and that of $Cl$. They exist as diatomic molecules as ${H_2}$ and $C{l_2}$. The balanced chemical equation for the hydrogen + chlorine → hydrogen chloride is as follows:
${H_2} + C{l_2} \to 2HCl$
The equation is balanced since there are two hydrogens on the reactants side and the same on the products side. The same is true for chlorine, with two chlorine atoms in the reactants and two in the products.

Note:
We must note that the law of conservation of masses applies not only to simple reactions but also to ionic reactions. In the case of ionic reactions, the law of conservation of masses holds true along with the law of conservation of charges as well. It states that the net charge of either side of the reactions must be equal before and after the reaction. In other words, all chemical reactions (ionic or non-ionic) must obey both the laws of conservation of mass and charge.