The reason that twice as much hydrogen is formed compared to oxygen in the decomposition of water is based on the molecular composition of water. A water molecule (H₂O) consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
When water decomposes into its elemental components through processes like electrolysis, each molecule of water breaks down into two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. This means that for every mole of water, you produce two moles of hydrogen gas (H₂) and one mole of oxygen gas (O₂).
Thus, the correct explanation for why twice as much hydrogen is formed compared to oxygen is simply due to the chemical formula of water, H₂O, where there are two hydrogen atoms for every one oxygen atom.
So, the statement that "there are two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen in a water molecule" accurately explains the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen produced during the decomposition of water.
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