Question

Solid cobalt(III) oxide reacts with solid carbon to form solid cobalt and carbon dioxide gas Express your answer as a chemical equation. Identify all of the phases in your answer.

Answer 1

Answer:

when Solid cobalt(iii) oxide reacts with solid carbon it forms solid cobalt and carbon dioxide gas

The unbalance chemical equation will be

Co₂O₃(s)  + C(s) --------> Co(s) + CO₂(g)

The balance chemical equation is

2 Co₂O₃(s)  + 3 C(s) --------> 4 Co(s) + 3 CO₂(g)

Explanation:

We know Co(iii) means that cobalt has a 3+ positive charge meaning it has 3 less electrons that normal on it's outer shell, together with oxygen you get the formula Co₂O₃ which is a solid

Carbon is also a solid, C(s) solid Cobalt symbol is Co(s) and carbon dioxide is CO₂(g)

So we have   Co₂O₃(s)  + C(s) --------> Co(s) + CO₂(g)

This equation is not balanced though, we have two cobalt and three oxygen on one side with one cobalt and two oxygen on the other.

Co₂O₃(s)  + C(s) --------> Co(s) + CO₂(g)

First balance the oxygen to get 6 on both sides: so multiply Co₂O₃(s) by 2 and CO₂(g) by 3

2 Co₂O₃(s)  + C(s) --------> Co(s) + 3 CO₂(g)

Now we have 3 carbons on the right, 1 on left and  we have 4 Cobalt on the left but 1 on the right.So multiply C(s) by 3 and Co(s) by 4

Hence finally we get

2 Co₂O₃(s)  + 3 C(s) --------> 4 Co(s) + 3 CO₂(g)