Word equation

tin(II) chloride + water → tin(II) hydroxide + hydrogen chloride

Input interpretation

SnCl2 + 2H2O → Sn(OH)2 + 2HCl

tin(II) chloride water tin(II) hydroxide hydrogen chloride

Balanced equation

Balance the chemical equation algebraically:

SnCl2 + 2H2O → Sn(OH)2 + 2HCl

Add stoichiometric coefficients, c,, to the reactants and products:

c1 SnCl2 + c2 2H2O → c3 Sn(OH)2 + c4 2HCl

Set the number of atoms in the reactants equal to the number of atoms in the products for Cl, Sn, H and O:

Cl: 2c1= c4

Sn: c1 = c3

H: 2c2 = 2c3 + c4

O: c2=2c3

Since the coefficients are relative quantities and underdetermined, choose a coefficient to set arbitrarily. To keep the coefficients small, the arbitrary value is ordinarily one. For instance, set c1 = 1 and solve the system of equations for the remaining coefficients:

c1 = 1

c2=2

c3 = 1

c4=2

Substitute the coefficients into the chemical reaction to obtain the balanced equation:

Answer:

SnCl2 + 2H2O → Sn(OH)2 + 2HCl