To balance the chemical equation:
_H2O + _O2 = _H2O2
We need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side (left) is equal to the number on the product side (right).
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Count the number of each type of atom:
- On the left, we have:
- H: 2 (from H2O)
- O: 3 (2 from O2 and 1 from H2O)
- On the right:
- H: 2 (from H2O2)
- O: 2 (from H2O2)
- On the left, we have:
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We see that the hydrogen atoms are already balanced, but the oxygen atoms are not.
To balance the oxygen, we will adjust the coefficients. Let's try:
2 H2O + O2 → 2 H2O2
Now, let's count again:
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Left side:
- H: 4 (2 from each of the 2 H2O = 2 * 2 = 4)
- O: 4 (2 from O2 + 2 from 2 H2O = 2 + 2 = 4)
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Right side:
- H: 4 (2 from each of the 2 H2O2 = 2 * 2 = 4)
- O: 4 (2 from each of the 2 H2O2 = 2 * 2 = 4)
Thus, the balanced equation with coefficients is:
2 H2O + 1 O2 → 2 H2O2
In summary, the coefficients are: 2, 1, 2.