Chapter 7, Problem 52A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

A balanced chemical equation corresponding to the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from barium peroxide needs to be presented.

Concept Introduction:

• A chemical reaction is expressed as a chemical equation having reactants and products on left and right side of the reaction arrow respectively.

  $\text{Reactants }\to \text{ Products}$

• A balanced chemical equation is one in which the number of atoms of various elements on the reactants side is equal to that on the product side. It depicts the stoichiometry of a given reaction.
• The equations are balanced in two steps:

1) Balance the atoms by matching the number of atoms of each type on the reactants and product side.

2) Adjust the coefficients to the smallest whole number. A coefficient of '1' is implied and therefore not explicitly written.

Answer to Problem 52A

  ${\text{BaO}}_2{\text{(s) + H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O (l)}\to {\text{BaO (s) + H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O}}_2\text{(aq) }$

Explanation of Solution

The given equation involves the reaction between solid barium peroxide and water to forman aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and barium oxide solid. The reactants and products are:

Reactant:

  $\begin{array}{l}{\text{Barium peroxide, solid - BaO}}_2\text{ (s)}\\ {\text{Water - H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O (l)}\end{array}$

Products:

  $\begin{array}{l}{\text{Hydrogen peroxide, aqueous - H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O}}_2\text{(aq)}\\ \text{Barium oxide, solid - BaO (s)}\end{array}$

  ${\text{BaO}}_2{\text{(s) + H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O (l)}\to {\text{BaO (s) + H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O}}_2\text{(aq) }$

The above equation is already balanced since the number of atoms of Ba, O and H are 1, 3 and 2 respectively on both the reactant and product side of the equation.

Conclusion

Therefore, 1 mole of Barium peroxide reacts with 1 mole of water to form 1 mole of barium oxide and 1 mole of hydrogen peroxide.