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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: anonymousstudent000000 on April 20, 2022, 06:17:33 PM

Title: How to simplify a chemical equation?
Post by: anonymousstudent000000 on April 20, 2022, 06:17:33 PM

I attached the image with the equation, I don't know why it just separates CuSO4 and put Cu²+   +  SO²-.  Why does it happen? It just ignored the oxidation number of sulfur. Can anyone help me please?

Title: Re: How to simplify a chemical equation?
Post by: sjb on April 21, 2022, 01:59:19 AM

(Image is Zn + CuSO₄  :rarrow: Cu + ZnSO₄, then Zn⁰ + Cu²⁺ + SO₄^2-  :rarrow: Cu⁰ + Zn²⁺ SO₄^2- in case it breaks, and for search assistance)

You can think of the sulfate ion perhaps as a "super-atom" that doesn't get changed in this reaction, or if you prefer you can split SO₄^2- further up into S⁶⁺ + 4O^2-. Note that sulfur doesn't always have a -2 oxidation state (and is very unlikely to exist by itself as a 6+ ion.

Title: Re: How to simplify a chemical equation?
Post by: Borek on April 21, 2022, 02:50:50 AM

Quote from: anonymousstudent000000 on April 20, 2022, 06:17:33 PM

I don't know why it just separates CuSO4 and put Cu²+   +  SO²-

Have you heard about dissociation of salts?