How to Balance Chemical Equations Involving Hydrogen and Atoms?

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The discussion focuses on balancing chemical equations involving hydrogen and various metals reacting with water and astatine. Examples provided include the balanced equation for lithium and water, 2Li + 2H2O -> H2 + 2LiOH, and the approach for magnesium, which requires two hydroxide groups, resulting in Mg + 2H2O -> H2 + Mg(OH)2. Participants emphasize the importance of understanding group numbers and valence electrons to determine how many hydroxide groups each metal needs to form stable compounds. The reactions with astatine are discussed, noting that astatine behaves similarly to chlorine, leading to the equations Na + At -> NaAt and H + At -> HAt. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for a periodic table and a grasp of chemical bonding principles to successfully balance these equations.
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Homework Statement


1. Li + H2O ->
2. K + H2O ->
3. Na + H2O ->
4. Ca + H2O ->
5. Mg + H2O ->
6. Cs + H2O ->
7. H + At ->
8. Na + At ->

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


1. 2Li + 2H2O -> H2 + 2LiOH
2 & 3: Same for 1.

Others I have no idea how to do. I was NOT taught these and she somehow thinks we were.
 
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Do you have a periodic table?
Do you know about groups and valence?
So how many OH each of the metals needs to make a stabel compound.

ps. In your answer, how many H are on the right side of the equation?
 
mgb_phys said:
Do you have a periodic table?
Do you know about groups and valence?
So how many OH each of the metals needs to make a stabel compound.

ps. In your answer, how many H are on the right side of the equation?

THe main problem is what the new product is. How would I know what Na + At, would create, etc,
 
Lithium is group 1 so it has one outer electron, and so it needs one OH group to plug into.
Sodium/Potassium are also group one, Magnesium and Calcium are group 2 so have 2 outer electrons and can plug into two OH groups
 
mgb_phys said:
Lithium is group 1 so it has one outer electron, and so it needs one OH group to plug into.
Sodium/Potassium are also group one, Magnesium and Calcium are group 2 so have 2 outer electrons and can plug into two OH groups

I don't really understand. Can you show me examples?
 
mgb_phys said:
Do you have a periodic table?


ps. In your answer, how many H are on the right side of the equation?

Four
 
Draggu said:
Four
Sorry I miscounted - I thought you had made a mistake.
 
Draggu said:
I don't really understand. Can you show me examples?
Do you know why it is 2Li + 2H2O -> H2 + 2LiOH ?

Lithium has 1 outer electron available for this sort of chemical reaction.
Oxygen is 2 electrons short.
Hydrogen is a little odd, it can be thought of as having one extra electron or one short - it has a single electron in an orbit that can hold 2.

The OH group has 2 spare slots on the oxygen and one of them filled by the hydrogen, so one free slot overall.
Lithium as we said has one extra electron which fits into this slot, making LiOH.
Magnesium has 2 outer electrons so needs to attach two OH groups = Mg(OH)2

Then it's just a matter of counting how many H2O you need to make everything balance.
 
mgb_phys said:
Do you know why it is 2Li + 2H2O -> H2 + 2LiOH ?

Lithium has 1 outer electron available for this sort of chemical reaction.
Oxygen is 2 electrons short.
Hydrogen is a little odd, it can be thought of as having one extra electron or one short - it has a single electron in an orbit that can hold 2.

The OH group has 2 spare slots on the oxygen and one of them filled by the hydrogen, so one free slot overall.
Lithium as we said has one extra electron which fits into this slot, making LiOH.
Magnesium has 2 outer electrons so needs to attach two OH groups = Mg(OH)2

Then it's just a matter of counting how many H2O you need to make everything balance.

So then Mg + 2H2O -> H2 + Mg(OH)2
 
  • #10
Draggu said:
So then Mg + 2H2O -> H2 + Mg(OH)2

Correct.
 
  • #11
mgb_phys said:
Correct.

Good. What about Hydrogen and Astatine, and sodium and Astatine.

H + At = ... /kill myself
 
  • #12
Bizarre example, Astatine (if you could get any) is chemically the same as Chlorine - what is the formula for Sodium and Chlorine
 
  • #13
mgb_phys said:
Bizarre example, Astatine (if you could get any) is chemically the same as Chlorine - what is the formula for Sodium and Chlorine

So Na + At -> NaAt

At + H - > AtH?
 
  • #14
Yer, or HAt is normally the order.
 
  • #15
And you have to balance it so that it's H2 or At2
 
  • #16
mgb_phys said:
And you have to balance it so that it's H2 or At2

Why?
 
  • #17
Because that's how it occurs as as molecules on the left side of the equation
 
  • #18
Does hydrogen travel around in simple atoms? Is it stable in relation to electron valency?

EDIT:
Draggu said:
7. H + At ->
It is missing in the original question.

The Bob
 

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