Question
Liquid Bromine combines with gaseers Nitrogen to produce gaseous Nitrogen Tribromide. Write the word equation and the balanced chemical equation. Then identify the type of reaction that has occurred.
Answer
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Felix
Veteran · Tutor for 10 years
Answer
The Word Equation: Nitrogen + Bromine -> Nitrogen Tribromide Balanced Chemical Equation : N2 + 3Br2 -> 2NBr3 Type of Reaction: Synthesis or Combination Reaction.
Explanation
We are provided with liquid bromine (Br2), gaseous nitrogen (N2), and told they react together to form gaseous nitrogen tribromide (NBr3). Taking this information, we write the chemicals as they appear with the plus "+" sign between them and leading to "->" the product:N2 + Br2 -> NBr3.However, the Law of Conservation of Matter tells us that atoms can not be created or destroyed, and thus, we are required to balance the equations with the same atoms on both sides. From observation, on the left side (N2 + Br2), we have 2 Nitrogen (N) atoms and two Bromine(Br) atoms. But, the product on the right side NBr3 requires only 1 nitrogen (N) and 3 Bromine atoms. To balance this, we amend the equation to include 3 bromine molecules on the left side (as Br is diatomic and exists in pairs) like this N2 + 3Br2. But right now there's another imbalance: we have only one Nitrogen in the right part of the equation. To make things right, we add a "2" in front of the NBr3 on the right. And thus, arriving at the correct and balanced chemical formula: N2 + 3Br2 -> 2NBr3Examples of this type of reaction can either be Synthesis or a Combination reaction since two or more simple substances are combining to form a more complex one.