The equation for the formation of fluorapatite, a crystal precursor during the production of phosphorus, is as follows: xCa₃(PO₄)₂ + CaF₂ → 2Ca₅(PO₄)₃F. If the above chemical equation is balanced, what would the value of x be?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To balance the equation, we need to make sure the number of each type of atom is equal on both sides. Starting with calcium (Ca), we have x Ca on the left and 2 Ca on the right, so x = 2. Next, we have S, U, and B elements. These are all balanced since they appear the same on both sides of the equation. Finally, we have P and F. On the left, we have a total of x + 14 P atoms, while on the right we have 2 P atoms. To balance this, we set x + 14 = 2, so x = -12. However, we can't have a negative value for x, so we ignore this solution. Instead, we need to double the left side of the equation to get 2P atoms. This means the balanced equation is: 2 Ca₃(PO₄)₂ + 2 CaF₂ → 4 Ca₅(PO₄)₃F Therefore, the value of x is 3, which is choice C.

The Equation for the Formation of Fluorapatite, a Crystal Precursor