Question

demonstration 3: how do you balance an equation? what will the coefficients be for each molecule when this equation is balanced? prediction and reasoning h₂o → h₂ + o₂ actual h₂o → h₂ + o₂ reactant side product side 2 h 2 1 o 2 conclusion explain how balanced equations show conservation of mass. application the following equation is balanced, but not simplified. what are the coefficients when the equation is balanced using the smallest, whole - number coefficients? support your answer. 4 co → 2 c + 2 co₂

Explanation:

Step1: Balance the water - decomposition equation

The un - balanced equation is $H_2O
ightarrow H_2 + O_2$. On the reactant side, we have 1 oxygen atom in $H_2O$ and 2 oxygen atoms in $O_2$ on the product side. To balance the oxygen atoms, we put a 2 in front of $H_2O$: $2H_2O
ightarrow H_2+O_2$. Now we have 4 hydrogen atoms on the left - hand side, so we put a 2 in front of $H_2$ on the right - hand side. The balanced equation is $2H_2O
ightarrow2H_2 + O_2$. The coefficients are 2 for $H_2O$, 2 for $H_2$ and 1 for $O_2$.

Step2: Simplify the given carbon - monoxide equation

The given equation is $4CO
ightarrow2C + 2CO_2$. We can divide each coefficient by 2. The simplified and balanced equation is $2CO
ightarrow C+CO_2$. The coefficients are 2 for $CO$, 1 for $C$ and 1 for $CO_2$.

Step3: Explain conservation of mass in balanced equations

In a balanced chemical equation, the number of atoms of each element is the same on the reactant and product sides. Since the mass of an element is proportional to the number of its atoms (using the molar mass), the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products. For example, in $2H_2O
ightarrow2H_2 + O_2$, we have 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms on both sides. The mass of hydrogen and oxygen is conserved because the number of their atoms is the same before and after the reaction.

Answer:

For $H_2O
ightarrow H_2 + O_2$, the coefficients are 2, 2, 1. For $4CO
ightarrow2C + 2CO_2$, the simplified coefficients are 2, 1, 1. Balanced equations show conservation of mass because the number of atoms of each element is the same on the reactant and product sides.