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When the equation #Li + O_2 -> Li_2O# is correctly balanced, what is the sum ofthe coefficients?

Answer 1

Owen Ambrose

The correctly balanced equation is:

4Li + O2 -> 2Li2O

The sum of the coefficients is 4 + 1 + 2 = 7.

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Answer 2

Mateo Aguilar

#4Li(s)+O_2(g) rarr 2Li_2O(s)#

The coefficients are selected so as to represent the conservation of mass. Is mass conserved in the given reaction? If it is not then it cannot be accepted as a representation of chemical reality. To make the arithmetic a bit easier we could write.........

#2Li(s) + 1/2O_2rarrLi_2O(s)#

See this old answer.......

Interestingly, lithium metal is one of the few materials that will react with (otherwise inert!) dinitrogen gas to give lithium nitride, #Li_3N#.

How would balance this equation?

#Li(s) + N_2(g) rarr Li_3N(s)#.........

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When the equation #Li + O_2 -&gt; Li_2O# is correctly balanced, what is the sum ofthe coefficients?

When the equation #Li + O_2 -> Li_2O# is correctly balanced, what is the sum ofthe coefficients?