36 colored paper clips (12 each of 3 different colors)

1.Each paper clip represents a single atom. Designate a different color of paper clip to represent atoms of oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and carbon (C). Makes two molecules each of hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) and six molecules of oxygen (O2).
2."React" on H2 with one O2 by splitting the molecules and joining one oxygen atom to two hydrogen atoms. Because there is a unreacted oxygen atom, you must react it with another hydrogen molecule to form a second water molecule.
3.Summarize what happened in this reaction by placing the number of each molecule reacted or formed in front of its formula.
___H2 + ___O2 ---> ___H2O

So what's the question? What don't you understand?

1. React 2 molecules of hydrogen (H2) with 1 molecule of oxygen (O2).

2H2 + O2 --->

2. Split the molecules and join one oxygen atom to two hydrogen atoms to form 2 water (H2O) molecules.
2H2 + O2 ---> 2H2O

To determine what happened in the reaction between hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2), let's break it down step by step:

1. First, we need to understand the initial conditions. We have 36 colored paper clips, with 12 each of 3 different colors representing oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and carbon (C).

2. We are required to make two molecules of hydrogen (H2), two molecules of methane (CH4), and six molecules of oxygen (O2) using these paper clips. Let's start with the hydrogen molecules:

a. Take two hydrogen paper clips (H) and join them together. This represents the formation of one molecule of hydrogen gas (H2).

b. Repeat the process with the remaining hydrogen paper clips to form the second molecule of hydrogen gas (H2).

3. Now, let's move on to methane (CH4):

a. Take one carbon paper clip (C) and join it with four hydrogen paper clips (H). This represents the formation of one molecule of methane (CH4).

b. Repeat the process with the remaining carbon and hydrogen paper clips to form the second molecule of methane (CH4).

4. Finally, we need to create six molecules of oxygen (O2):

a. Take two oxygen paper clips (O) and join them together. This represents the formation of one molecule of oxygen gas (O2).

b. Repeat the process with the remaining oxygen paper clips until you have a total of six molecules of oxygen gas (O2).

5. Now, let's focus on the reaction between hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2) to form water (H2O):

a. From the initial setup, we have two molecules of hydrogen gas (H2) and six molecules of oxygen gas (O2) represented by the corresponding paper clips.

b. Write down the chemical equation for this reaction: ___H2 + ___O2 ---> ___H2O

c. Start by "reacting" one molecule of hydrogen gas (H2) with one molecule of oxygen gas (O2) by splitting them.

d. Join one oxygen atom (O) with two hydrogen atoms (H) to form a molecule of water (H2O). This is represented by the paper clips.

e. After this step, we still have one unreacted oxygen atom (O) remaining.

f. Therefore, we need to react this unreacted oxygen atom with another molecule of hydrogen gas (H2).

g. Join one oxygen atom (O) with two hydrogen atoms (H) again to form a second molecule of water (H2O).

h. Now, summarize what happened in the reaction by placing the number of each molecule reacted or formed in front of its formula: 2H2 + O2 ---> 2H2O

Note: The number of molecules reacted or formed can be adjusted depending on the number of paper clips you have available for each element.