An unbalanced chemical equation for the reaction of boron fluoride with lithium sulfite is shown below
bf3 + li2so3 > b2(so3)3 + lif
what is the coefficient of lithium fluoride in the balanced chemical reaction?
1
3
4
6

Ans: D) 6

A reaction is said to be balanced when the number of atoms (of one type) is the same in both the reactants and the product side of the equation.

The given reaction is:

BF3 + Li2SO3 → B2(SO3)3 + LiF

Reactants                          Products

B = 1                                   B = 2

F = 3                                  F = 1  

Li = 2                                  Li = 1

S = 1                                   S = 3    

O = 3                                 O = 9

From the above atoms tally, it is  clear that the B, F, Li, S and O atoms are unbalanced.

In order to balance it, multiply BF3 by 2, Li2SO3 by 3 and LiF by 6. The balanced equation is:

2BF3 + 3Li2SO3 → B2(SO3)3 +6 LiF

Therefore, coefficient of LiF is 6