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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Brain(aq) on February 11, 2020, 09:47:37 AM

Title: Balancing Question
Post by: Brain(aq) on February 11, 2020, 09:47:37 AM

I apologize in advance for my ignorance ...trying to self-teach myself chemistry....anyway, here it goes:

If solid mercury (II) oxide is written HgO, then why is the balanced equation 2HgO  :rarrow: 2Hg + O₂ ?
Why cant it just be HgO  :rarrow: Hg + O...is it because oxygen is diatomic?  HgO has a single atom of each in the compound correct?

Title: Re: Balancing Question
Post by: chenbeier on February 11, 2020, 10:14:33 AM

Correctly Oxygen exist mostly as O₂. So if it will be used in an chemical equation, it has to be balanced accordingly.