Question

Classify What type of reaction is most likely to occur when barium reacts with fluorine? Write the chemical equation for the reaction.

Short answer

The most likely reaction to occur when barium (Ba) reacts with fluorine (F) is a synthesis reaction, forming an ionic compound, barium fluoride (BaF2). The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is: \(Ba + 2F \rightarrow BaF_2\).

Step-by-step solution

Identify the elements involved in the reaction

Barium (Ba) is an alkaline earth metal in group 2 of the periodic table, and fluorine (F) is a halogen in group 17 of the periodic table.

Determine the most likely type of reaction

Alkaline earth metals, like barium, readily donate their valence electrons to non-metals, like fluorine, to form compounds. Barium, having two valence electrons, will likely participate in an ionic bonding with fluorine, which only needs one electron to complete its octet. Therefore, a synthesis reaction is most likely, resulting in an ionic compound.

Predict the product of the reaction

Based on the synthesis reaction between barium and fluorine, we can predict that when barium reacts with fluorine, an ionic compound, barium fluoride (BaF2), forms. The 2 after fluorine in the formula results from the fact that barium donates 2 electrons, and fluorine only needs 1 electron. Thus, two fluorine atoms are required to bond with the barium atom.

Write the unbalanced chemical equation for the reaction

Now we can write the unbalanced chemical equation for the reaction: Ba + F -> BaF2

Balance the chemical equation

Now we need to balance the chemical equation. Initially, we have 2 fluorine atoms on the product side, but only one on the reactant side. To balance the equation, we add a 2 in front of F on the reactant side: Ba + 2F -> BaF2 With the balanced chemical equation, we can say that the most likely reaction to occur when barium reacts with fluorine is a synthesis reaction to form barium fluoride (BaF2).

Key concepts

Understanding Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions are processes by which substances (reactants) transform into different substances (products). These transformations are fundamental to chemistry, showcasing how atoms rearrange themselves to form new compounds. In the case of barium reacting with fluorine, the reaction is classified as a synthesis reaction, where two or more reactants combine to form a single product.

In a synthesis reaction, simplicity is key. It can be represented by the general formula: \[ A + B \rightarrow AB \]. Here, 'A' and 'B' represent the reactants that come together to form 'AB', the product. This type of reaction is common within the realm of ionic bonding, particularly when a metal reacts with a non-metal, leading to the formation of an ionic compound, as seen in the reaction between barium (Ba) and fluorine (F) to form barium fluoride (BaF₂).

Ionic Bonding Essentials

Ionic bonding occurs when atoms transfer electrons to achieve a full outer shell of electrons, referred to as an octet. This transfer creates ions: positively charged cations and negatively charged anions. Ionic compounds, like barium fluoride (BaF₂), are formed from these ions.

Barium (Ba), for instance, donates two electrons, becoming a cation, while each fluorine atom (F) accepts one electron, becoming an anion. Two fluorine atoms are needed to balance the charge of one barium atom, hence the chemical formula BaF₂. The resulting ionic bond is the electrostatic attraction that holds the ions together in a lattice structure, characterized by high melting and boiling points and electrical conductivity when dissolved in water or melted.

Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing chemical equations is crucial for representing the conservation of mass in a chemical reaction. Each element must have the same number of atoms on both the reactant and product sides of the equation. The initial, unbalanced equation for the reaction between barium and fluorine is written as Ba + F \rightarrow BaF₂.

To balance the equation, we observe and adjust the coefficients - the numbers placed before compounds and elements in the equation - until we achieve balance. In this context, we place a coefficient of '2' in front of fluorine on the reactant side to correspond with the two fluorine atoms in BaF₂. Thus, the balanced equation becomes: \[ \text{Ba} + 2\text{F} \rightarrow \text{BaF}_2 \].

Remember, coefficients adjust the number of molecules or atoms, but subscripts in chemical formulas (the small numbers to the right of elements) are part of the compound's identity and must not be altered when balancing equations.