Balance this Equation: Pb(NO3)2→PbO+NO2+O2

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 25th, 2023

The balanced equation is 2Pb(NO3)2 → 2PbO + 4NO2 + O2. All chemical equations require balance. This requires that on both sides of the arrow, each type of atom must be present in the same number. This is because the conservation of mass is a byproduct of all chemical reactions. Find the number of hydrogen and oxygen atoms on either side of the arrow. Two hydrogen atoms can be found in both the reactants and the products.

Table of content

1. Pb(NO3)2→PbO+NO2+O2 Balance the Equation
2. Balance this Equation: Pb(NO3)2→PbO+NO2+O2

Pb(NO3)2→PbO+NO2+O2 Balance the Equation

Chemical equations use the relevant chemical formulas to symbolically express the reactants and products of a chemical reaction. To balance chemical equations, stoichiometric coefficients for the reactants and products are required.

This is important because a chemical equation must follow the rules of conservation of mass and constant proportions, which dictate that the same number of atoms of each element must be present on both the reactant and product sides of the equation.

The steps to balance the equation Pb(NO3)2→PbO+NO2+O2 are as follows:

Step 1: Given the equation:

Pb(NO3)2 → PbO+NO2+O2

Step 2: Method used for balancing the equation:

utilising the standard approach for balancing chemical equations. First, compare the atoms of every element on the product and reactant side, according to the technique.
Molecules containing an element with a distinct number of atoms on the product and reactant side should be given stoichiometric coefficients. The number of atoms on either side must be balanced by the coefficient.
Typically, the oxygen and hydrogen stoichiometric coefficients are assigned at the end.
The stoichiometric coefficient must be multiplied by the total number of atoms of an element present in 1 molecule of the species to determine the number of atoms in one species.
Continue doing this until both the reactant and product sides have the same number of all the atoms of the reacting components.

Step 3: Achieving equation balance:

The equation is as follows: Pb(NO3)2 → PbO+NO2+O2

Reactant side:

1 Lead atom
2 Nitrogen atoms
6 Oxygen atoms

Product side:

1 Lead atom
1 Nitrogen atom
5 Oxygen atoms

The oxygen atoms are balanced first. After being balanced, the equation is: 2Pb(NO3)2 → 2PbO + 4NO2 + O2

The lead and nitrogen atoms are then balanced. The revised equation is: 2Pb(NO3)2 → 2PbO + 4NO2 + O2

Reactant side:

2 Lead atom
4 Nitrogen atoms
12 Oxygen atoms

Product side:

2 Lead atom
4 Nitrogen atom
12 Oxygen atoms

The equation is balanced because there are an equal number of all the atoms of the reacting components on both the product and reactant sides.

Hence, the balanced equation is 2Pb(NO3)2→2PbO+4NO2+O2

Summary: