How many bonds are broken in the reaction 2H₂O --> H₂ + 2O₂?

Answer 1

In the given reaction, two water molecules (H₂O) are decomposed into hydrogen gas (H₂) and oxygen gas (O₂).

Each water molecule contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, and each hydrogen atom forms a single covalent bond with the oxygen atom.

Therefore, in the reaction, a total of four covalent bonds are broken:

2 H-O bonds in the first water molecule
2 H-O bonds in the second water molecule

So, four bonds are broken in the reaction 2H₂O → H₂ + 2O₂.