A student is working on the pictured chemical equation. In the picture are the reactants for the reaction. How many total atoms will be in the product?

Question

cH4+20^2--->

Answer 1

To determine the total number of atoms in the product of the chemical reaction represented by \( \text{CH}_4 + 2 \text{O}_2 \), we first need to analyze the reactants.

1. Count the atoms in the reactants:

   • For \( \text{CH}_4 \) (methane):
     • Carbon (C): 1 atom
     • Hydrogen (H): 4 atoms
   • For \( 2 \text{O}_2 \) (diatomic oxygen, 2 molecules):
     • Each \( \text{O}_2 \) molecule contains 2 oxygen atoms, so \( 2 \text{O}_2 \) contains \( 2 \times 2 = 4 \) oxygen atoms.

2. Total atoms in the reactants:

   • Carbon: 1
   • Hydrogen: 4
   • Oxygen: 4
   • Total = \( 1 + 4 + 4 = 9 \) atoms

3. Determine the products: The complete combustion of methane (\( \text{CH}_4 \)) with oxygen (\( \text{O}_2 \)) yields carbon dioxide (\( \text{CO}_2 \)) and water (\( \text{H}_2\text{O} \)). The balanced equation for the reaction is: \[ \text{CH}_4 + 2 \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + 2 \text{H}_2\text{O} \]

4. Count the atoms in the products:

   • For \( \text{CO}_2 \):
     • Carbon: 1 atom
     • Oxygen: 2 atoms
   • For \( 2 \text{H}_2\text{O} \) (water):
     • Each water molecule contains 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. For 2 molecules:
     • Hydrogen: \( 2 \times 2 = 4 \) atoms
     • Oxygen: 2 atoms

5. Total atoms in the products:

   • Carbon: 1
   • Hydrogen: 4
   • Oxygen: \( 2 + 2 = 4 \)
   • Total = \( 1 + 4 + 4 = 9 \) atoms

The total number of atoms in the products is 9.