Question

#4 - balance this chemical equation on your own
__ kno₃ + h₂co₃ → k₂co₃ + __ hno₃

Explanation:

Step1: Balance potassium (K) atoms

There are 2 K atoms on the right (in $\text{K}_2\text{CO}_3$), so add a coefficient of 2 to $\text{KNO}_3$ on the left:
$2\text{KNO}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{CO}_3
ightarrow \text{K}_2\text{CO}_3 + \text{HNO}_3$

Step2: Balance nitrogen (N) atoms

Now there are 2 N atoms on the left (in $2\text{KNO}_3$), so add a coefficient of 2 to $\text{HNO}_3$ on the right:
$2\text{KNO}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{CO}_3
ightarrow \text{K}_2\text{CO}_3 + 2\text{HNO}_3$

Step3: Verify all atoms

Count atoms on both sides:

• Left: 2 K, 2 N, $2\times3 + 3 = 9$ O, 2 H, 1 C
• Right: 2 K, 2 N, $3 + 2\times3 = 9$ O, 2 H, 1 C

All atoms are balanced.

Answer:

$2\text{KNO}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{CO}_3
ightarrow \text{K}_2\text{CO}_3 + 2\text{HNO}_3$
(The coefficients are 2, 1, 1, 2 respectively)