Question

The combustion of ammonia produces NO and water. If the chemical reaction for this process is properly balanced using the smallest possible integers, what is the sum of the coefficients for the products?

Answer 1

Answer:

10

Explanation:

The unbalanced combustion reaction is shown below as:-

$NH_3+O_2\rightarrow NO+H_2O$

On the left hand side,  

There are 3 hydrogen atoms and 1 nitrogen atom and 2 oxygen atoms

On the right hand side,  

There are 1 nitrogen atom and 2 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms

Thus,  

Right side, $H_2O$ must be multiplied by 6 to balance hydrogen.

Left side, $NH_3$ must be multiplied by 4 to balance hydrogen.

Also, Right side, $NO$ is multiplied by 4 so to balance nitrogen.

Left side, $O_2$ must be multiplied by 5 to balance the whole reaction.

Thus, the balanced reaction is:-

$4NH_3+5O_2\rightarrow 4NO+6H_2O$

Sum of Coefficient of product - 4 + 6 = 10