Use the equation to answer the question.

2NH4NO3 → _____N2 + _H2O + _____O2

Which numbers balance this equation?

(1 point)
Responses

2, 4, 1
2, 4, 1

1, 2, 3
1, 2, 3

2, 2, 1
2, 2, 1

1, 4, 3

1 answer

To balance the equation \(2 \text{NH}_4\text{NO}_3 → ____ \text{N}_2 + __ \text{H}_2\text{O} + ___ \text{O}_2\), we need to determine the correct coefficients for each product.

  1. Start with the reactant:

    • 2 moles of \( \text{NH}_4\text{NO}_3 \) contain:
      • Nitrogen (N): \( 2 \times 2 = 4 \) N
      • Hydrogen (H): \( 2 \times 4 = 8 \) H
      • Oxygen (O): \( 2 \times 3 = 6 \) O
  2. Analyzing products to balance Nitrogen (N):

    • To produce 4 N: \( 2 \text{N}_2 \) (because each \( \text{N}_2 \) has 2 N).
  3. Balancing Hydrogen (H):

    • Producing 8 H from the water requires \( 4 \text{H}_2\text{O} \) (because each \( \text{H}_2\text{O} \) has 2 H).
  4. Balancing Oxygen (O):

    • The total O from the products needs to equal 6.
    • From \( 4 \text{H}_2\text{O} \): \( 4 \) O
    • From \( 2 \text{N}_2 \): \( 0 \) O (does not contribute)
    • From \( \frac{1}{2} \text{O}_2 \): \( 2 \) O
    • Total O: \( 4 + 2 = 6 \)

Putting that all together, we get: \[ 2 \text{NH}_4\text{NO}_3 → 2 \text{N}_2 + 4 \text{H}_2\text{O} + 1 \text{O}_2 \]

So the balanced coefficients are 2, 4, and 1.

Therefore, the correct response is:

2, 4, 1.