Question

Complete and balance each of the following reactions. a. the reaction between sulfur dioxide gas and oxygen gas b. the reaction between sulfur trioxide gas and water c. the reaction between concentrated sulfuric acid and sucrose \(\left(\mathrm{C}_{12} \mathrm{H}_{22} \mathrm{O}_{11}\right)\)

Short answer

a. \( 2\text{SO}_2(g) + \text{O}_2(g) \rightarrow 2\text{SO}_3(g) \) b. \( \text{SO}_3(g) + \text{H}_2\text{O}(l) \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4(l) \) c. \( 12\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4(l) + \text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11}(s) \rightarrow 12\text{C}(s) + 22\text{H}_2\text{O}(g) \)

Step-by-step solution

1. Write the Unbalanced Reaction Equations

a. The reaction between sulfur dioxide gas and oxygen gas: \[ \text{SO}_2(g) + \text{O}_2(g) \rightarrow\] b. The reaction between sulfur trioxide gas and water: \[ \text{SO}_3(g) + \text{H}_2\text{O}(l) \rightarrow\] c. The reaction between concentrated sulfuric acid and sucrose (C12H22O11): \[ \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4(l) + \text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11}(s) \rightarrow\]

2. Identify the Products

a. Sulfur dioxide reacts with oxygen gas to form sulfur trioxide gas: \[ \text{SO}_2(g) + \text{O}_2(g) \rightarrow \text{SO}_3(g)\] b. Sulfur trioxide reacts with water to form sulfuric acid: \[ \text{SO}_3(g) + \text{H}_2\text{O}(l) \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4(l)\] c. The concentrated sulfuric acid reacts with sucrose to form carbon and water, as it undergoes dehydration: \[ \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4(l) + \text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11}(s) \rightarrow \text{C}(s) + \text{H}_2\text{O}(g)\]

3. Balance the Equations

a. To balance the reaction between sulfur dioxide and oxygen gas, we need to adjust the coefficients: \[ 2\text{SO}_2(g) + \text{O}_2(g) \rightarrow 2\text{SO}_3(g)\] Here, the number of sulfur and oxygen atoms is the same on both sides of the reaction. b. The reaction between sulfur trioxide and water is already balanced: \[ \text{SO}_3(g) + \text{H}_2\text{O}(l) \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4(l)\] c. Lastly, we balance the reaction between concentrated sulfuric acid and sucrose. Since there are 12 carbon atoms in sucrose, we should form 12 carbon atoms in the product: \[ 12\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4(l) + \text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11}(s) \rightarrow 12\text{C}(s) + 22\text{H}_2\text{O}(g)\] Now all three chemical reactions are balanced.