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 between boron oxide (B2O3) and magnesium (Mg) to produce elemental boron (B) and magnesium oxide (MgO) is: \(B2O3 + 3Mg -> 2B + 3MgO\)

Step-by-step solution

Write the unbalanced equation

Write down the reactants and products as a chemical equation, using the standard notation for compounds and elements. B2O3 + Mg -> B + MgO

Determine the number of atoms for each element in the equation

Count the number of atoms for each element: Reactants side: - Boron (B): 2 atoms - Oxygen (O): 3 atoms - Magnesium (Mg): 1 atom Products side: - Boron (B): 1 atom - Oxygen (O): 1 atom - Magnesium (Mg): 1 atom

Select an element to balance first

We can start by balancing the boron atoms. On the reactants side, we have 2 B atoms, and on the products side, we have 1 B atom.

Balance the boron atoms

Since we have 2 boron atoms on the reactants side and only 1 on the products side, we will need to place a 2 in front of the elemental boron (B) on the products side. This will create 2 boron atoms on both sides of the equation: B2O3 + Mg -> 2B + MgO

Balance the magnesium and oxygen atoms

Now, let's balance the magnesium atoms. After placing a 2 in front of the elemental boron, the number of magnesium and oxygen atoms on both sides of the equation are: Reactants side: - Magnesium (Mg): 1 atom - Oxygen (O): 3 atoms Products side: - Magnesium (Mg): 1 atom - Oxygen (O): 1 atom To balance the oxygen atoms, we can place a 3 in front of the magnesium oxide (MgO) on the products side. This will give us 3 magnesium and 3 oxygen atoms. We also need to place a 3 in front of the magnesium (Mg) on the reactants side to balance the magnesium atoms: B2O3 + 3Mg -> 2B + 3MgO

Check if the equation is balanced

Now, let's check if the equation is balanced by counting the number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation: Reactants side: - Boron (B): 2 atoms - Oxygen (O): 3 atoms - Magnesium (Mg): 3 atoms Products side: - Boron (B): 2 atoms - Oxygen (O): 3 atoms - Magnesium (Mg): 3 atoms Since the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation, the equation is balanced: B2O3 + 3Mg -> 2B + 3MgO