Question

the reactants and products of cellular respiration are made of the same amounts of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms. when 1 molecule of glucose (c₆h₁₂o₆) reacts with 6 molecules of oxygen gas (o₂), the atoms in those molecules are rearranged to produce 6 molecules of carbon dioxide gas (co₂) and 6 molecules of water (h₂o). which chemical equation is balanced and represents the overall process of cellular respiration? 6c₆h₁₂o₆ + o₂ → 6co₂ + h₂o c₆h₁₂o₆ + 6o₂ → 6co₂ + 6h₂o c₆h₁₂o₆ + 6o₂ → co₂ + 6h₂o 6c₆h₁₂o₆ + 6o₂ → 6co₂ + 6h₂o

Explanation:

Step1: Check carbon atoms

In glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$), there are 6 carbon atoms. In the products, for the equation to be balanced, the total number of carbon atoms in carbon - dioxide ($CO_2$) should be 6. In the equation $C_6H_{12}O_6+6O_2
ightarrow6CO_2 + 6H_2O$, there are 6 carbon atoms on both sides.

Step2: Check hydrogen atoms

In glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$), there are 12 hydrogen atoms. In water ($H_2O$), since there are 6 molecules of water in the equation $C_6H_{12}O_6+6O_2
ightarrow6CO_2 + 6H_2O$, the number of hydrogen atoms is $6\times2 = 12$, which is balanced.

Step3: Check oxygen atoms

In glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$), there are 6 oxygen atoms, and in 6 molecules of oxygen ($6O_2$), there are $6\times2=12$ oxygen atoms, so in total on the reactant side there are $6 + 12=18$ oxygen atoms. In 6 molecules of carbon - dioxide ($6CO_2$), there are $6\times2 = 12$ oxygen atoms, and in 6 molecules of water ($6H_2O$), there are 6 oxygen atoms, so in total on the product side there are $12+6 = 18$ oxygen atoms.

Answer:

B. $C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2
ightarrow6CO_2 + 6H_2O$