Balance the chemical equation below using the smallest possible whole number stoichiometric coefficients. P4(s)+NaOH(aq)+H2O(l)➪
PH3(g)+Na2HPO3(aq)

  P₄  +  4NaOH  + 2H₂O  →  2PH₃  +  2Na₂HPO₃  

Explanation:

The given reaction expression is given as:

              P₄  +  NaOH  + H₂O  →  PH₃  +  Na₂HPO₃  

To solve this problem, now we put coefficients a, b, c, d and e and we use a mathematical approach to solve this problem;

              aP₄  +  bNaOH  + cH₂O  →  dPH₃  +  eNa₂HPO₃  

Conserving P: 4a  = d + e

                  Na: b  = 2e

                  O:  b + c  = 3e

                  H:   b + 2c  = 3d + e

let b  = 1, e  = , c  =  , d =  , a =

  Multiply through by 4;

b  = 4, e  = 2, c  = 2, d  = 2, a  = 1

        P₄  +  4NaOH  + 2H₂O  →  2PH₃  +  2Na₂HPO₃