When sodium reacts with chlorine, sodium chloride is produced. andrew represented this reaction with this equation: na + cl2 → 2nacl the equation is (blank 1) because the number of (blank 2) atoms is (blank 3) on both sides of the arrow. blank 1 a) balanced b) not balanced blank 2 a) chlorine b) sodium blank 3 a) equal b) not equal

The equation is (NOT BALANCED) because the number of (SODIUM) atoms is (NOT EQUAL) on both sides of the arrow.

Explanation:

1) As per the Dalton theory (or mass conservation law) in a chemical reaction the atoms do not dissapear or appear but are conserved.

2) So the number of atoms of the elements in the reactants must be equal to the atoms of the elements of the products.

3) Balancing a chemical reaction is the mathematical process of equalling the atoms of each element on both sides of the reaction.

4) In the given chemical equation, the coefficent in front Na on the left side is 1 meaning that there is 1 atom of Na, while in the right side (the side of the products) the coefficient in front of NaCl is 2, meaning that there are 2 atoms of Na. So, the equation is not balanced.

The balanced equation is:

2Na + Cl2 --> 2NaCl