The chemical reaction you've provided can be interpreted as:
\[ 2H_2 + O_2 \rightarrow 2H_2O \]
This means that two molecules of hydrogen gas (H₂) react with one molecule of oxygen gas (O₂) to produce two molecules of water (H₂O).
Let's evaluate the statements:
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Atoms of H₂ and O₂ are lost during the reaction.
- This statement is incorrect. According to the law of conservation of mass, atoms are neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction; they are merely rearranged.
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The reaction creates new atoms of H₂ and O₂.
- This statement is also incorrect. No new atoms are created; the atoms of hydrogen and oxygen are recombined to form water.
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The H₂O and O₂ produced had the same mass as the original H₂ and O₂.
- This statement is incorrect as well. The only products are H₂O; O₂ is a reactant, not a product. What can be derived is that the mass of the reactants (2 H₂ and 1 O₂) equals the mass of the products (2 H₂O).
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O₂ had the same properties as H₂O and OH.
- This statement is incorrect. O₂ (oxygen gas) and H₂O (water) have very different properties. OH (hydroxide ion) is also a different entity with distinct properties.
The most accurate interpretation of the reaction in conjunction with the law of conservation of mass would be that the total mass before the reaction (in the form of H₂ and O₂) equals the total mass after the reaction (in the form of H₂O).
In conclusion, none of the given statements are correct. The closest understanding is that the mass of the reactants equals the mass of the products, though that specific option was not provided correctly.