Question

ethanol is a chemical that is used in many hand sanitizers. it is produced when steam reacts with the chemical ethylene. consider the following reaction: 2 molecules of ethylene (c₂h₄) react with 2 molecules of water (h₂o) to produce some amount of ethanol (c₂h₆o). complete the table below. chemical element | number of atoms in the reaction h c o during this reaction, how many molecules of ethanol (c₂h₆o) are produced? submit work it out not feeling ready yet? this can help: count atoms and molecules in chemical reactions (1501)

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze Hydrogen atoms

Each ethylene (\(C_2H_4\)) has 4 H atoms, 2 molecules: \(2\times4 = 8\). Each water (\(H_2O\)) has 2 H atoms, 2 molecules: \(2\times2 = 4\). Total H: \(8 + 4 = 12\).

Step2: Analyze Carbon atoms

Each ethylene (\(C_2H_4\)) has 2 C atoms, 2 molecules: \(2\times2 = 4\).

Step3: Analyze Oxygen atoms

Each water (\(H_2O\)) has 1 O atom, 2 molecules: \(2\times1 = 2\).

Step4: Determine ethanol molecules

Ethanol is \(C_2H_6O\). Let \(x\) be molecules of ethanol. C: \(2x = 4\) ⇒ \(x = 2\). H: \(6x = 12\) (matches total H). O: \(x = 2\) (matches total O). So 2 molecules.

Answer:

s:

• H: 12
• C: 4
• O: 2
• Ethanol molecules: 2