Which of the following is the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between aqueous barium chloride and aqueous sodium phosphate to form solid barium phosphate and aqueous sodium chloride?

• A. BaCl2(aq) + Na3PO4(aq) → Ba3(PO4)2(s) + NaCl(aq)
• B. 3BaCl2(aq) + 2Na3PO4(aq) → Ba3(PO4)2(s) + 6NaCl(aq)
• C. 3BaCl2(aq) + Na3PO4(aq) → Ba3(PO4)2(s) + 3NaCl(aq)
• D. 2BaCl2(aq) + 3Na3PO4(aq) → 2Ba3(PO4)2(s) + 6NaCl(aq)

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the reactants and products in the chemical equation: Barium chloride (BaCl₂) and sodium phosphate (Na₃PO₄) are the reactants, while barium phosphate (Ba₃(PO₄)₂) and sodium chloride (NaCl) are the products.
2. Write the unbalanced chemical equation: BaCl₂(aq) + Na₃PO₄(aq) → Ba₃(PO₄)₂(s) + NaCl(aq).
3. Balance the barium atoms: Since there are 3 barium atoms in Ba₃(PO₄)₂, you need 3 BaCl₂ molecules. Update the equation to 3BaCl₂(aq) + Na₃PO₄(aq) → Ba₃(PO₄)₂(s) + NaCl(aq).
4. Balance the phosphate ions: There are 2 phosphate ions in Ba₃(PO₄)₂, so you need 2 Na₃PO₄ molecules. Update the equation to 3BaCl₂(aq) + 2Na₃PO₄(aq) → Ba₃(PO₄)₂(s) + NaCl(aq).
5. Balance the sodium and chloride ions: There are 6 sodium ions and 6 chloride ions needed to balance the equation, so you need 6 NaCl molecules. The balanced equation is 3BaCl₂(aq) + 2Na₃PO₄(aq) → Ba₃(PO₄)₂(s) + 6NaCl(aq).