Which of the following is the correctly balanced chemical equation for the formation of sulfur trioxide from sulfur dioxide and oxygen?

• A. SO_2 + 2 O_2 → SO_3
• B. 2 SO_2 + O_2 → 2 SO_3
• C. SO_2 + O_2 → SO_3
• D. 2 SO_2 + 3 O_2 → 2 SO_3

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the reactants and products in the chemical reaction. Here, sulfur dioxide (SO_2) and oxygen (O_2) are the reactants, and sulfur trioxide (SO_3) is the product.
2. Write the unbalanced chemical equation: \(\mathrm{SO_2 + O_2 \rightarrow SO_3}\).
3. Balance the sulfur atoms first. Since there is one sulfur atom in SO_2 and one in SO_3, start by placing coefficients to balance sulfur atoms if needed.
4. Balance the oxygen atoms next. Count the total oxygen atoms on both sides and adjust coefficients to ensure the number of oxygen atoms is the same on both sides.
5. Verify that both sulfur and oxygen atoms are balanced and that all coefficients are the smallest whole numbers possible to get the balanced equation.