Potassium chlorate, #KClO_3#, decomposes to form potassium chloride, #KCl# and oxygen gas. How do you write a balanced equation for this decomposition reaction?

Question

Avery Adams · Accepted Answer

#"2KClO"_3("s")" + heat"##rarr##"2KCl(s)" + "3O"_2("g")"# #"KClO"_3("s")" + heat"##rarr##"KCl(s)" + "O"_2("g")"# Notice that the number of atoms of #"K"# and #"Cl"# are the same on both sides, but the numbers of #"O"# atoms are not. There are 3 #"O"# atoms on the the left side and 2 on the right. 3 and 2 are factors of 6, so add coefficients so that there are 6 #"O"# atoms on both sides. #"2KClO"_3("s")" + heat"##rarr##"KCl(s)" + "3O"_2("g")"# Now the #"K" and "Cl"# atoms are not balanced. There are 2 of each on the left and 1 of each on the right. Add a coefficient of 2 in front of #"KCl"#. #"2KClO"_3("s")" + heat"##rarr##"2KCl(s)" + "3O"_2("g")"# The equation is now balanced with 2 #"K"# atoms, 2 #"Cl"# atoms, and 6 #"O"# atoms on both sides.

Serenity Allen · Answer

undefined The balanced equation for the decomposition reaction of potassium chlorate (KClO3) to form potassium chloride (KCl) and oxygen gas (O2) is:

2KClO3(s) -> 2KCl(s) + 3O2(g)