What are the correct coefficients when this equation is balanced? ___ Sb + __ O2 --> Sb4O6

4 Sb, 3

Explanation:

  On the reactant's side of the equation (the left side), there is one Antimony and one Oxygen gas molecule (). The oxygen gas molecule is made of two atoms, so we actually have 2 oxygens on the left side. On the product's side (the right side), there are 4 antimony atoms, and 6 oxygen atoms. If we were to write it out in a certain way, it would look like this:

__Sb + __ -->

                  1   Sb   4

                  2   O   6

  To balance this equation, those numbers on either side of the elements must equal each other. We can accomplish this with the proper coefficients. If we put a 4 in front of the antimony, it means this:

4 Sb + __ -->

                  4   Sb   4

                  2   O   6

And the antimony is now balanced.

  Now we must balance the oxygen. There are 6 oxygens on the product's side but only 2 on the reactant's side. To fix this, simply multiply the oxygen by 3:

4 Sb + 3 -->

              4   Sb   4

              6   O   6

3 * 2 = 6, so now oxygen is balanced, and the equation is now correct.

the law of conservation of mass states that in a chemical reaction, the total mass of reactants is equal to the total mass of products. because atoms are only rearranged in a chemical reaction, there must be the same number of sodium atoms and chlorine atoms in both the reactants and products