Which of the following is the correctly balanced chemical equation for the reaction: K2CrO4 + Na2SO3 + HCl → KCl + Na2SO4 + CrCl3 + H2O?

• A. 2K2CrO4 + 3Na2SO3 + 8HCl → 4KCl + 3Na2SO4 + 2CrCl3 + 4H2O
• B. K2CrO4 + 2Na2SO3 + 6HCl → 2KCl + 2Na2SO4 + CrCl3 + 3H2O
• C. K2CrO4 + 3Na2SO3 + 8HCl → 2KCl + 3Na2SO4 + CrCl3 + 4H2O
• D. K2CrO4 + Na2SO3 + 2HCl → 2KCl + Na2SO4 + CrCl3 + H2O

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify all the elements involved in the reaction: potassium (K), chromium (Cr), oxygen (O), sodium (Na), sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl), and hydrogen (H).
2. Write down the unbalanced chemical equation: \(\mathrm{K_2CrO_4 + Na_2SO_3 + HCl \rightarrow KCl + Na_2SO_4 + CrCl_3 + H_2O}\).
3. Balance the chromium atoms first by ensuring the number of Cr atoms on both sides is equal. Since Cr appears in \(\mathrm{K_2CrO_4}\) and \(\mathrm{CrCl_3}\), adjust their coefficients accordingly.
4. Balance the potassium (K) and sodium (Na) atoms next by adjusting coefficients of \(\mathrm{K_2CrO_4}\), \(\mathrm{Na_2SO_3}\), \(\mathrm{KCl}\), and \(\mathrm{Na_2SO_4}\) to have equal numbers on both sides.
5. Balance the sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl), oxygen (O), and hydrogen (H) atoms last by adjusting the coefficients of \(\mathrm{Na_2SO_3}\), \(\mathrm{HCl}\), and \(\mathrm{H_2O}\), making sure the total number of each atom is the same on both sides of the equation.