To complete the chemical equation while supporting the Law of Conservation of Matter, you want to make sure that the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side (left) equals the number on the product side (right).
The provided equation is:
\[ \text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2 \]
Let's analyze the elements on both sides:
Reactants:
- Carbon (C): 1 (from CO₂)
- Oxygen (O): 2 (from CO₂) + 6 (from 6H₂O) = 8
- Hydrogen (H): 12 (from 6H₂O) = 12
Products:
- Carbon (C): 6 (in C₆H₁₂O₆)
- Oxygen (O): 6 (in C₆H₁₂O₆) + 12 (from 6O₂) = 18
- Hydrogen (H): 12 (in C₆H₁₂O₆) = 12
The reactants do not equal the products as follows:
- Carbon: 1 (reactants) vs. 6 (products)
- Oxygen: 8 (reactants) vs. 18 (products)
- Hydrogen: 12 (reactants) vs. 12 (products)
To balance the equation correctly to support the Law of Conservation of Matter, we should have:
\[ 6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2 \]
Now, let's check the balanced equation:
Reactants:
- Carbon (C): 6 (from 6CO₂)
- Oxygen (O): 12 (from 6CO₂) + 6 (from 6H₂O) = 18
- Hydrogen (H): 12 (from 6H₂O) = 12
Products:
- Carbon (C): 6 (in C₆H₁₂O₆)
- Oxygen (O): 6 (in C₆H₁₂O₆) + 6 (from 6O₂) = 12
- Hydrogen (H): 12 (in C₆H₁₂O₆) = 12
This basic equation for photosynthesis now balances correctly: \[ 6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2 \]
Now the number of atoms for each element on both sides is consistent, thereby adhering to the Law of Conservation of Matter.
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