Question

Photosynthesis is a process in which plants take in water and carbon dioxide to create
glucose and oxygen. Below is the equation. Label the following parts of an equation:
subscript, coefficient, product, reactant

Answer 1

Use the standard photosynthesis equation:

6CO2 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6O2

Labels and explanations:

- Reactants (left side of arrow): 6CO2 and 6H2O
- These are the starting substances that are consumed.

- Products (right side of arrow): C6H12O6 and 6O2
- These are the substances produced by the reaction.

- Coefficients (numbers placed before formulas, apply to whole molecules):
- 6 in 6CO2, 6 in 6H2O, 6 in 6O2.
- Note: there is an implied coefficient of 1 in front of C6H12O6 (glucose).

- Subscripts (numbers written inside a formula, tell the number of atoms of each element in one molecule):
- In CO2 the 2 is a subscript (2 oxygen atoms).
- In H2O the 2 is a subscript (2 hydrogen atoms).
- In C6H12O6 the subscripts are 6 (C), 12 (H), and 6 (O).
- In O2 the 2 is a subscript (2 oxygen atoms).

Quick note: to find the total number of a particular atom in the equation, multiply the coefficient by the appropriate subscript (e.g., 6CO2 contains 6 × 2 = 12 oxygen atoms).