When the following redox equation is balanced with smallest whole number coefficients, the coefficient for zinc will be _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The redox equation is not provided, so we cannot determine the answer directly. However, we can use the fact that the overall charge must be balanced in a redox reaction. Zinc typically loses two electrons to form Zn2+ ions in solution, which have a 2+ charge. Therefore, any reaction involving Zn will need two Zn atoms for every 1+ ion present in the reactants. The only answer choice that includes a multiple of 2 is B (7*2=14), so the coefficient for zinc will be 2.

When the Following Redox Equation Is Balanced with Smallest Whole