Chapter 11.1, Problem 2SP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: A skeleton equation for a chemical reaction, sulfur burning in oxygen to form sulfur dioxide should be determined.

Concept Introduction: A skeleton equation is defined as a chemical equation that uses the formulas of the reactants and products involved in a chemical reaction. It does not indicate the amounts of the reactants and products. For this equation, an arrow is used to differentiate reactants and products, the reactants are written on the left side of the arrow whereas products are written on the right side of the arrow.

Answer to Problem 2SP

  ${\text{S(s) + O}}_{\text{2}}\text{(g)}\to {\text{SO}}_{\text{2}}\text{(g)}$

Explanation of Solution

The formula of the reactants and the physical states of each substance involved in the burning of sulfur in oxygen to form sulfur dioxide is:

Sulfur, $\text{S(s)}$

(s) indicates the solid state.

Oxygen, ${\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\text{(g)}$

(g) indicates the gaseous state.

The formula of the product and its physical state involved in the burning of sulfur in oxygen to form sulfur dioxide is:

Sulfur dioxide, ${\text{SO}}_{\text{2}}\text{(g)}$

The reactants are separated from products with an arrow and two reactants are separated using the plus sign. Thus, the skeleton equation for a chemical reaction, sulfur burning in oxygen to form sulfur dioxide is:

  ${\text{S(s) + O}}_{\text{2}}\text{(g)}\to {\text{SO}}_{\text{2}}\text{(g)}$