Question

Balance the reaction. A coefficient of "1" is understood. Choose option "blank" for the correct answer if the coefficient is "1."

2AgNO₃ +________________ MgCl₂ 2AgCl + ________________Mg(NO₃)₂

Answer 1

so what exactly is unclear here? do you know how to balance equations?

Answer 2

as i see this equation is balanced so just throw "blank" in there and your done... do you understand why?

Answer 3

Not really. Chemistry is pretty much kicking my butt this year

Answer 4

do you understand concept and difference between atoms and molecules? we have atoms which build molecules lets take your current example AgCl where this molecule is built from atom of Ag and of atom Cl. in order for reaction to be called chemical there must come to certain rearangements of atoms. in this case we are rearanging Ag Mg Cl atoms and NO3 group.so when AgNO3 reacts first there comes to break of bond between Ag and N from NO3 group, in same time there is a break between Mg and Cl in MgCl2, and then Mg reacts ie bonds with N from NO3 group and Ag reacts ie bonds with Cl

Answer 5

get it this far?

Answer 6

Yeah I'm catching on, slowly, but surely

Answer 7

So the rearrangment balances the equation.

Answer 8

ok so now that we have that new molecules we have a rule that only whole molecules can be created and whole molecule must break to react, you cant break for example Ag in half and get half of Ag atom, there is an reaction of that whole atom get it?

Answer 9

Right, because of the only whole molecules rule. Half of one just doesn't work. You can't split atoms in half.

Answer 10

so that numbers after certain atom name relate to the atom on the left so you have in MgCl2 one atom of Mg and 2 atoms of Cl and when that molecule breaks it gives one atom of Mg and two atoms of Cl to reaction right?
and as we said only whole atom can react so we get as a product of reaction Mg(NO3)2 now why is there 2 NO3 groups bonded with Mg?! because Mg has charge +2 ie he gives 2 electrons and needs somebody who can accept those 2 electrons, so NO3 group has -1 charge ie it accepts 1 electron so it is needed 2 NO3 groups to bond with Mg right?

Answer 11

and same case is with Ag where we had AgNO3, Ag was giving one electron which one NO3 group accepted, after that bond broke Ag gave its one electron to new atom and that atom is Cl get it this far?

Answer 12

Yeah, yeah, now that it's wrote out like that I'm understanding much better

Answer 13

ok now do you get what those numbers before molecules represent for example there is 2 before AgNO3 molecule in equation?

Answer 14

yeah isnt that how much of it? The amount of molecules?

Answer 15

yes exactly it says how many of that molecules is necesary for reaction to obey that rule that we cant split atom in half, so that whole atoms can rearange and create new molecule
do you get now why there is blank in those spaces?
it comes down to counting number of atoms on left side and if it is equal to a number of same atoms on right side of equation then reaction is as we say balanced

Answer 16

Awesome, okay I completely get it now. Ugh thank you so much Kryten. You're a saint.

Answer 17

no problem, if you got any questions and doubts just post a question and tag me ill help if i can