Question

conclusion: what happens to the total number of atoms during a chemical reaction? claim evidence reasoning reflections: 1. what does a coefficient tell you about molecules? 2. what does a subscript tell you about the atoms in a molecule? 3. the following equation is the reaction that produces glucose - photosynthesis. how many of each atom do you start with? 6co₂ carbon dioxide + 6h₂o water → c₆h₁₂o₆ sugar + 6o₂ oxygen oxygen atoms carbon atoms hydrogen atoms

Explanation:

Step1: Answer the main question

According to the law of conservation of mass in chemical reactions, atoms are neither created nor destroyed. So the total number of atoms remains the same during a chemical reaction.

Step2: Explain what a coefficient tells

A coefficient in a chemical - formula tells you the number of molecules of that substance. For example, in \(6CO_2\), the coefficient 6 means there are 6 molecules of carbon - dioxide.

Step3: Explain what a subscript tells

A subscript in a chemical formula tells you the number of atoms of a particular element in a molecule. For example, in \(H_2O\), the subscript 2 on H means there are 2 hydrogen atoms in one molecule of water.

Step4: Count atoms in the photosynthesis reaction

For oxygen atoms: In \(6CO_2\), there are \(6\times2 = 12\) oxygen atoms from carbon - dioxide, and in \(6H_2O\), there are 6 oxygen atoms from water. So in total, there are \(12 + 6=18\) oxygen atoms at the start.
For carbon atoms: In \(6CO_2\), there are 6 carbon atoms.
For hydrogen atoms: In \(6H_2O\), there are \(6\times2 = 12\) hydrogen atoms.

Answer:

• Conclusion: The total number of atoms remains the same during a chemical reaction.
• What a coefficient tells: The number of molecules of a substance.
• What a subscript tells: The number of atoms of an element in a molecule.
• Oxygen atoms at start: 18
• Carbon atoms at start: 6
• Hydrogen atoms at start: 12