Question

Write a balanced equation for each of the following reactions: (a) Sulfur dioxide reacts with water. (b) Solid zinc sulfide reacts with hydrochloric acid. (c) Elemental sulfur reacts with sulfite ion to form thiosulfate. (d) Sulfur trioxide is dissolved in sulfuric acid.

Short answer

(a) SO_2 + H_2O → H_2SO_3 (b) ZnS + 2HCl → ZnCl_2 + H_2S (c) 2S + SO_3^(2-) → S_2O_3^(2-) (d) SO_3 + H_2SO_4 → H_2S_2O_7

Step-by-step solution

a) Sulfur dioxide reacts with water

The given reaction can be represented as: SO_2 + H_2O → H_2SO_3 Now we'll balance the equation: The number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation is equal, so the equation is already balanced: SO_2 + H_2O → H_2SO_3

b) Solid zinc sulfide reacts with hydrochloric acid

The given reaction can be represented as: ZnS + HCl → ZnCl_2 + H_2S Now we'll balance the equation: As there are 2 chlorine atoms in ZnCl_2, we need to adjust the coefficients of HCl accordingly: ZnS + 2HCl → ZnCl_2 + H_2S Now the equation is balanced.

c) Elemental sulfur reacts with sulfite ion to form thiosulfate

The given reaction can be represented as: S + SO_3^(2-) → S_2O_3^(2-) Now we'll balance the equation: We can see that we need 2 sulfur atoms on the reactant side, so we need to adjust the coefficients of sulfur accordingly: 2S + SO_3^(2-) → S_2O_3^(2-) Now the equation is balanced.

d) Sulfur trioxide is dissolved in sulfuric acid

The given reaction can be represented as: SO_3 + H_2SO_4 → H_2S_2O_7 Now we'll balance the equation: The number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation is equal, so the equation is already balanced: SO_3 + H_2SO_4 → H_2S_2O_7