2H2(g)+ O2(g) --> 2H2O(L)

I know the oxidizing agent is oxygen and the reducing agent is hydrogen.

what are the number of electrons transferred in the balanced chemical equation? (I put 2 and tried -2 but it didn't seem right)

H on the left is zero and it goes to +4 (all of them that is) so the loss of electrons is 4

Oxygen is zero on the left and -4 on the right (for the two of them). Therefore, the gain of electrons is 4.

I am lost on how to write the half reactions for the oxidation and reduction parts.Thank you

thanks

Ah, the electrifying world of redox reactions! While oxygen is indeed the oxidizing agent and hydrogen is the reducing agent, let's count the number of electrons transferred in this balanced equation.

In this reaction, each hydrogen atom loses one electron, and since there are two hydrogen atoms on the left side of the equation, we have a total of 2 electrons being lost. On the other hand, each oxygen atom gains two electrons to form water, and since there's only one oxygen molecule on the left side, we have a total of 4 electrons being gained.

So, in total, there is a transfer of 2 electrons from hydrogen to oxygen. Keep in mind that although this might sound shocking, it's quite electrifying!

To determine the number of electrons transferred in a balanced chemical equation, you need to consider the changes in oxidation numbers of the elements involved in the reaction.

In the given equation:
2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(l)

The oxidation state of hydrogen (H) in the reactant H2(g) is 0 since it is in a diatomic form. In the product H2O(l), the oxidation state of hydrogen becomes +1. Therefore, hydrogen has lost one electron.

The oxidation state of oxygen (O) in the reactant O2(g) is 0 as well since it is in a diatomic form. In the product H2O(l), the oxidation state of oxygen becomes -2. Therefore, oxygen has gained two electrons.

Since two molecules of water are formed, the electron transfer occurs twice. This means that a total of 2 electrons were transferred in the balanced equation.

Thus, the correct answer is 2.