Balance the following equation stepwise: SO2(g) + H2S(aq) → S(s) + H2O(l)

Balanced equation: \(\mathrm{SO_2(g) + 2H_2S(aq) \rightarrow 3S(s) + 2H_2O(l)}\)

Step 1: Count atoms in the skeletal equation. Left: S = 2, O = 2, H = 2. Right: S = 1, O = 1, H = 2.

Step 2: Balance oxygen. O is 2 on the left (in \(\mathrm{SO_2}\)), so write \(\mathrm{2H_2O}\) on the right. Now H on the right = 4.

Step 3: Balance hydrogen. To get 4 H on the left, write \(\mathrm{2H_2S}\).

Step 4: Balance sulphur. Left side now has S = 1 + 2 = 3, so write \(\mathrm{3S}\) on the right.

Step 5: Check. S: 3 = 3, O: 2 = 2, H: 4 = 4. The equation is balanced.