How to Balance Chemical Equations Involving Hydrogen and Atoms?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around balancing chemical equations involving hydrogen and various metals, particularly in reactions with water and the hypothetical reactions involving astatine (At). Participants explore the principles of chemical bonding, valence electrons, and the formation of hydroxides.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents several unbalanced chemical equations involving lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and hydrogen with water, expressing uncertainty about how to balance them.
  • Another participant questions the understanding of periodic table groups and valence electrons, suggesting that knowing how many hydroxide (OH) groups each metal needs is essential for forming stable compounds.
  • Some participants explain that lithium, sodium, and potassium (group 1) require one hydroxide group, while magnesium and calcium (group 2) require two, but express confusion about specific examples.
  • There is a discussion about the reaction of magnesium with water, leading to the equation Mg + 2H2O -> H2 + Mg(OH)2, with participants confirming its correctness.
  • Participants speculate about the reactions involving hydrogen and astatine, with one suggesting that astatine behaves similarly to chlorine, leading to proposed formulas like NaAt and AtH.
  • There is a mention of the need to balance the equations to account for diatomic molecules like H2 and At2, with questions raised about the stability of hydrogen in relation to electron valency.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various levels of understanding and confusion regarding the balancing of equations, particularly with astatine. There is no consensus on how to approach the reactions involving astatine, and multiple viewpoints on the principles of balancing equations are present.

Contextual Notes

Some participants indicate a lack of instruction on these topics, leading to uncertainty about how to balance the equations correctly. The discussion also reflects varying levels of familiarity with chemical principles and terminology.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students learning about chemical reactions, particularly those involving metals and water, as well as those interested in the properties of less common elements like astatine.

Draggu
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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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