2 HCl + CaCO₃ → CaCl₂ + H₂O + CO₂
Here's how to balance the equation:
1. Identify the reactants and products:
- Reactants: HCl and CaCO₃
- Products: CaCl₂, H₂O, and CO₂
2. Count the atoms of each element on both sides of the equation:
- Reactants:
- H: 1
- Cl: 1
- Ca: 1
- C: 1
- O: 3
- Products:
- H: 2
- Cl: 2
- Ca: 1
- C: 1
- O: 3
3. Adjust coefficients in front of the chemical formulas to balance the atoms:
- To balance the hydrogen and chlorine atoms, place a coefficient of 2 in front of HCl: 2 HCl + CaCO₃ → CaCl₂ + H₂O + CO₂
4. Double-check that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides:
- Reactants:
- H: 2
- Cl: 2
- Ca: 1
- C: 1
- O: 3
- Products:
- H: 2
- Cl: 2
- Ca: 1
- C: 1
- O: 3
The equation is now balanced!