Question

Elemental boron is produced by reduction of boron oxide with magnesium to give boron and magnesium oxide. Write a balanced equation for this reaction.

Short answer

The balanced equation for the reaction is: \(B₂O₃ + 3Mg \rightarrow 2B + 3MgO\).

Step-by-step solution

Identify the chemical formulas for the reactants and products

Boron oxide has the chemical formula B₂O₃, and elemental boron is simply B. Magnesium is represented by Mg, and magnesium oxide has the chemical formula MgO.

Write the unbalanced equation

Now that we have the chemical formulas for the reactants and products, we can write the unbalanced equation: \[B₂O₃ + Mg \rightarrow B + MgO\]

Balance the equation

To balance the equation, we must make sure that the number of atoms for each element in the reactants is equal to the number of atoms for each element in the products. 1. First, balance the boron (B) atoms: The unbalanced equation has 2 B atoms in the reactants as B₂O₃, and 1 B atom in the product. So, we add a coefficient of 2 to the product B: \[B₂O₃ + Mg \rightarrow 2B + MgO\] 2. Next, balance the oxygen (O) atoms: The unbalanced equation has 3 O atoms in the reactants as B₂O₃, and 1 O atom in the product as MgO. So, we add a coefficient of 3 to the product MgO: \[B₂O₃ + Mg \rightarrow 2B + 3MgO\] 3. Finally, balance the magnesium (Mg) atoms: Now, the unbalanced equation has 1 Mg atom in the reactants and 3 Mg atoms in the products as MgO. So, we add a coefficient of 3 to the reactant Mg: \[B₂O₃ + 3Mg \rightarrow 2B + 3MgO\]

Confirm the balanced equation

To confirm the equation is properly balanced, we can check the number of atoms for each element in the reactants and products side: - Reactants: 2 B atoms (in B₂O₃), 3 Mg atoms, and 3 O atoms (in B₂O₃) - Products: 2 B atoms, 3 Mg atoms (in 3MgO), and 3 O atoms (in 3MgO) Since the number of atoms for each element is equal on both sides, the balanced equation is: \[B₂O₃ + 3Mg \rightarrow 2B + 3MgO\]