The balanced equation for the reaction between Sn2+ and Tl3+ is:
Sn2+ + Tl3+ → Sn4+ + Tl+
This is the balanced equation because it follows the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. This means that the number of atoms of each element must be the same on both the reactant and product side of the equation.
Coefficients are determined by using the lowest whole-number ratio between reactants and products. This can be achieved by trial and error or by using a systematic approach such as the method of inspection or the algebraic method.
No, coefficients in a balanced equation must be whole numbers. Fractions are not allowed because they represent a partial amount of a substance, which goes against the law of conservation of mass.
The physical states of the reactants and products in this equation are not specified. In order to include this information, state symbols can be added as subscripts next to each compound, such as (aq) for aqueous, (s) for solid, (l) for liquid, or (g) for gas.