Chapter 19, Problem 12STP

To determine

To find: The balanced chemical equation for the given reaction.

Answer to Problem 12STP

The balanced chemical equation is as follows:

  ${\text{NiCl}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{aq}\right)\text{+}\text{2NaOH}\left(\text{aq}\right)\to \text{Ni}{\left(\text{OH}\right)}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{s}\right)\text{+2NaCl}\left(\text{aq}\right)$

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

A chemical reaction is said to be balanced, when the reaction has equal number of each type of atoms on the reactants side as well as products side.

According to the given information, when aqueous nickel chloride is reacting with the aqueous sodium hydroxide, solid nickel hydroxide and aqueous sodium chloride are formed.

The unbalanced chemical reaction will be:

  ${\text{NiCl}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{aq}\right)\text{+}\text{NaOH}\left(\text{aq}\right)\to \text{Ni}{\left(\text{OH}\right)}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{s}\right)\text{+NaCl}\left(\text{aq}\right)$

The above reaction is not balanced as number of O, H and Cl atoms are not balanced. Give coefficient 2 to both NaOH and NiCl to balance these atoms.

Thus, the balanced chemical reaction is as follows:

  ${\text{NiCl}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{aq}\right)\text{+}\text{2NaOH}\left(\text{aq}\right)\to \text{Ni}{\left(\text{OH}\right)}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{s}\right)\text{+2NaCl}\left(\text{aq}\right)$

In the above reaction, there are equal number of same atoms on both side of the reaction.

Conclusion:

Thus, the balanced chemical reaction as follows:

  ${\text{NiCl}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{aq}\right)\text{+}\text{2NaOH}\left(\text{aq}\right)\to \text{Ni}{\left(\text{OH}\right)}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{s}\right)\text{+2NaCl}\left(\text{aq}\right)$