In which chemical equation the number of atoms in the reactants the same as the number of atoms in the products?
The chemical equation that has an equal number of atoms in the reactants and products is considered a balanced equation. In a balanced equation, the number of atoms of each element on the left side (reactants) is equal to the number of atoms of each element on the right side (products).
In a balanced chemical equation, the number of atoms in the reactants is always equal to the number of atoms in the products. This is because of the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Therefore, all the atoms present in the reactants must be accounted for in the products. An example of a balanced chemical equation where the number of atoms in the reactants is the same as the number of atoms in the products is:
2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O
In this equation, there are 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms on each side, making it balanced.
To determine which chemical equation has the same number of atoms in the reactants as in the products, you need to balance the equation. Balancing a chemical equation involves adjusting the coefficients in front of each compound or element to ensure that the number of atoms on both sides of the equation is equal.
Let's take the chemical equation below as an example:
CO2 + H2O → C6H12O6
To balance this equation, you need to ensure that the number of atoms on the left side (reactants) is the same as the number of atoms on the right side (products).
First, count the number of atoms of each element on both sides:
On the left side: 1 carbon (C) and 4 oxygen (O) atoms.
On the right side: 6 carbon (C), 12 hydrogen (H), and 6 oxygen (O) atoms.
Since the carbon and oxygen atoms are not balanced, we need to adjust the coefficients. To balance the equation, we can put a coefficient of 6 in front of CO2 and a coefficient of 6 in front of H2O:
6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6
Now, recheck the number of atoms:
On the left side: 6 carbon (C) and 24 oxygen (O) atoms.
On the right side: 6 carbon (C), 12 hydrogen (H), and 6 oxygen (O) atoms.
Now, the number of carbon and oxygen atoms is balanced. Therefore, the equation above has the same number of atoms in the reactants (CO2 + H2O) as in the products (C6H12O6).