help with balancing please!!

[kierstin]

Could anyone help me balance this equation? I am having a heck of a time. THis program said that it was an impossible reaction, but my teacher said that it is. He gave us the formula in words and we are supposed to write the balanced equation. I cannot get this to balance. Any suggestions???

Calcium cyanide + water = calcium carbonate + ammonia gas

Ca(CN)₂ + H₂O = Ca(CO₃) + NH₃

[Xen]

In Ca(CN)₂ there is 2 atoms of C per one of Ca and so we must have in products therefore there should be other products as well. For example, here is a balanced equation:

Code: Select all

Ca(CN)2 + 5 H2O = CaCO3 + 2 NH3 + CO2 + 2 H2

link: http://www.webqc.org/balance.php?reacti ... 2BCO₂%2BH₂

Actually cyanides usually decompose differently:

Code: Select all

Ca(CN)2 + 4 H2O = Ca(HCO2)2 + 2 NH3

link: http://www.webqc.org/balance.php?reacti ... %292%2BNH₃

Hope this helps!