Question

what are the steps in which you would take to balance out this equation?
HClO4 + P4O10 ---> H3PO4 + Cl2O7

Answer 1

Answer:

HClO4 is the “hydrated” form of Cl2O7 and

H3PO4 is the “hydrated” form of P4O10

so I split the reaction into two halves:

HClO4 => Cl2O7

2 HClO4 => Cl2O7 (balance the Cl)

2 HClO4 => Cl2O7 + H2O (balance the O and H) P4O10 => H3PO4

P4O10 => 4 H3PO4 (balance the P)

6 H2O + P4O10 => 4 H3PO4 (balance the O and H)

Now multiply the HClO4 equation by 6

12 HClO4 => 6 Cl2O7 + 6 H2O and add this to

6 H2O + P4O10 => 4 H3PO4 (the H2O cancel out)

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12 HClO4 + P4O10 => 6 Cl2O7 + 4 H3PO4 (balanced)