Input interpretation
mixed sulfur + activated charcoal + potassium nitrate ⟶ carbon dioxide + potassium sulfate + nitrogen + pearl ash
Balanced equation
Balance the chemical equation algebraically: + + ⟶ + + + Add stoichiometric coefficients, c_i, to the reactants and products: c_1 + c_2 + c_3 ⟶ c_4 + c_5 + c_6 + c_7 Set the number of atoms in the reactants equal to the number of atoms in the products for S, C, K, N and O: S: | c_1 = c_5 C: | c_2 = c_4 + c_7 K: | c_3 = 2 c_5 + 2 c_7 N: | c_3 = 2 c_6 O: | 3 c_3 = 2 c_4 + 4 c_5 + 3 c_7 Since the coefficients are relative quantities and underdetermined, choose a coefficient to set arbitrarily. To keep the coefficients small, the arbitrary value is ordinarily one. For instance, set c_1 = 1 and solve the system of equations for the remaining coefficients: c_1 = 1 c_3 = (4 c_2)/5 + 6/5 c_4 = (3 c_2)/5 + 2/5 c_5 = 1 c_6 = (2 c_2)/5 + 3/5 c_7 = (2 c_2)/5 - 2/5 The resulting system of equations is still underdetermined, so an additional coefficient must be set arbitrarily. Set c_2 = 6 and solve for the remaining coefficients: c_1 = 1 c_2 = 6 c_3 = 6 c_4 = 4 c_5 = 1 c_6 = 3 c_7 = 2 Substitute the coefficients into the chemical reaction to obtain the balanced equation: Answer: | | + 6 + 6 ⟶ 4 + + 3 + 2
Structures
+ + ⟶ + + +
Names
mixed sulfur + activated charcoal + potassium nitrate ⟶ carbon dioxide + potassium sulfate + nitrogen + pearl ash
Chemical names and formulas
| mixed sulfur | activated charcoal | potassium nitrate | carbon dioxide | potassium sulfate | nitrogen | pearl ash Hill formula | S | C | KNO_3 | CO_2 | K_2O_4S | N_2 | CK_2O_3 name | mixed sulfur | activated charcoal | potassium nitrate | carbon dioxide | potassium sulfate | nitrogen | pearl ash IUPAC name | sulfur | carbon | potassium nitrate | carbon dioxide | dipotassium sulfate | molecular nitrogen | dipotassium carbonate