[Violet89]

When the following equation is balanced using the smallest possible integers, what is the exponent of H2O in the reaction quotient expression?

H2O(l) + SO3(g) <=> H2SO4(aq)


How do I go about solving for what the exponent of H2O is? I know that the equation is already balanced. I don't understand how the exponent is 0 for H2O.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

[Borek]

Trick is - the exponent is NOT zero. We often do ignore water, but not because the exponent is zero.

[Violet89]

Trick is - the exponent is NOT zero. We often do ignore water, but not because the exponent is zero.

Thank you for your reply. I wonder why Blackboard is giving me zero as the correct answer...

[Big-Daddy]

As far as I can see the equation is balanced so the coefficient should be 1. Rather than writing "H2O (l)", I have often seen it written as "(aq)". (I think I may have also seen "∞H2O (l)", but I'm not sure if that's even correct - maybe Borek can shed some light.) But the coefficient cannot be 0.