Balance the following equations. (a) VCl3 + Na + CO --> V(CO)6 + NaCl

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Step 1: Identify the type of reaction. In this case, it's a combination reaction where multiple reactants combine to form a single product.

Step 2: Start by balancing the atoms that appear in the most complex molecules first. In this case, we start with the Vanadium (V) atoms. There is 1 V atom on both sides of the equation, so it's already balanced.

Step 3: Next, balance the Chlorine (Cl) atoms. There are 3 Cl atoms on the left side (in VCl3) and 1 Cl atom on the right side (in NaCl). To balance this, we need to put a coefficient of 3 in front of NaCl on the right side.

Step 4: Now, balance the Sodium (Na) atoms. There are 3 Na atoms on the right side (in 3NaCl) and 1 Na atom on the left side. To balance this, we need to put a coefficient of 3 in front of Na on the left side.

Step 5: Finally, balance the Carbon (C) and Oxygen (O) atoms. There are 6 C atoms and 6 O atoms on the right side (in V(CO)6) and 1 C atom and 1 O atom on the left side. To balance this, we need to put a coefficient of 6 in front of CO on the left side.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing chemical equations involves ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation. This is based on the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Coefficients are used to adjust the quantities of reactants and products to achieve balance.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It allows chemists to predict the amounts of substances consumed and produced in a reaction based on balanced equations. Understanding stoichiometry is essential for calculating yields and determining the limiting reactant in a reaction.

Complex Formation

Complex formation refers to the process where a central metal atom or ion binds with surrounding molecules or ions, known as ligands. In the given equation, vanadium forms a complex with carbon monoxide, resulting in the compound V(CO)6. Recognizing how ligands interact with metal centers is crucial for understanding coordination chemistry and the properties of transition metal complexes.