Question

what is the missing coefficient to make a balanced equation? ? o₂ + c → co. be sure the equation is balanced before entering the coefficients.

Explanation:

Step1: Balance oxygen atoms

Let the coefficient of $O_2$ be $x$, coefficient of $C$ be $y$ and coefficient of $CO$ be $z$. The number of oxygen atoms on the left - hand side is $2x$ and on the right - hand side is $z$. The number of carbon atoms on the left - hand side is $y$ and on the right - hand side is $z$.

Step2: Set up equations for balancing

For oxygen: $2x=z$. For carbon: $y = z$. We want the simplest non - zero integer solutions. If we set $x = 1$, then $z=2$ and $y = 2$. The balanced equation is $O_2+2C
ightarrow2CO$. The coefficient of $O_2$ is 1.

Answer:

1