Question

In which chemical equation is the number of atoms in the reactants the same as the number of atoms in the products?(1 point)
Responses

Li2CO3→LiO+CO2
l i sub 2 c o sub 3 rightarrow l i o plus c o sub 2

CH4+O2→CO2+2H2O
c h sub 4 plus o sub 2 rightarrow c o sub 2 plus 2 h sub 2 o

Zn+2HCl→H2+ZnCl2
z n plus 2 h c l rightarrow h sub 2 plus z n c l sub 2

CO2+H2O→CH2OH+O2

Answer 1

To determine which chemical equation has the same number of atoms in the reactants as in the products, let's analyze each option:

1. **Li2CO3 → LiO + CO2**
- Reactants: Li (2) + C (1) + O (3) = 6 atoms
- Products: Li (1) + O (1) + C (1) + O (2) = 4 atoms
- **Not balanced.**

2. **CH4 + O2 → CO2 + 2H2O**
- Reactants: C (1) + H (4) + O (2) = 7 atoms
- Products: C (1) + H (4) + O (2) = 7 atoms
- **Balanced.**

3. **Zn + 2HCl → H2 + ZnCl2**
- Reactants: Zn (1) + H (2) + Cl (2) = 5 atoms
- Products: H (2) + Zn (1) + Cl (2) = 5 atoms
- **Balanced.**

4. **CO2 + H2O → CH2OH + O2**
- Reactants: C (1) + O (3) + H (2) = 6 atoms
- Products: C (1) + H (2) + O (3) = 6 atoms
- **Balanced.**

Upon review, the second **(CH4 + O2 → CO2 + 2H2O)** and the third **(Zn + 2HCl → H2 + ZnCl2)**, as well as the fourth equation **(CO2 + H2O → CH2OH + O2)** are balanced with equal numbers of atoms on both sides.

However, if you only need one answer, the most straightforward one is the second one:

**CH4 + O2 → CO2 + 2H2O**.