Complete the exercises below. Write a balanced equation for the reaction of each of the following compounds with water: b. Cl₂O₇ (g).

A balanced chemical equation represents a chemical reaction where the number of atoms for each element is the same on both the reactant and product sides. This is crucial for obeying the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Balancing involves adjusting coefficients in front of compounds to ensure equal atom counts.

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction involving the breaking of a bond in a compound by the addition of water. In the context of the question, Cl₂O₇ reacts with water to form hydrochloric acid and other products. Understanding hydrolysis is essential for predicting the products of reactions involving oxides and water.

Chlorine oxides, such as Cl₂O₇, are compounds formed from chlorine and oxygen. Cl₂O₇ is known as dichlorine heptoxide and is a powerful oxidizing agent. Recognizing the properties and reactivity of chlorine oxides helps in predicting their behavior in reactions, particularly their interaction with water to form acids.