Some Other Examples of Balancing Equations

Two other examples of balancing equations are considered here. The first of these is for the combustion in a moist atmosphere of aluminum phosphide, AlP, to give aluminum oxide and phosphoric acid, H3PO4. The imbalanced equation for this reaction is 

AlP + O2 + HjO AljO -I- H3PO4 The steps in balancing this equation are the following, starting with Al  

2A1P + 4O2 + 3H2O AI2O3 + 2H3PO4 Check each element for balance  

The second example of balancing equations is illustrated for trimethylchloro-sUane, a flammable liquid used to produce high-purity silicon for semiconductor applications. Transportation accidents have resulted in spillage of this chemical and fires that produce carbon dioxide and a fog of silicon dioxide and hydrogen chloride dissolved in water droplets. The unbalanced equation for this reaction is 

Checking the quantities of each of the elements in the products and reactants shows that the equation is balanced. 

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