In the equation

2H2+1O2→→2H2O

if you change the 2H2 to 3H2 molecules and balance the equation, identify which statement is correct?

(1 point)
Responses

The equation will produce three molecules of water.
The equation will produce three molecules of water.

The result of the equation will be the same.
The result of the equation will be the same.

It is not possible to produce water without leftover molecules.
It is not possible to produce water without leftover molecules.

Each oxygen molecule will combine with 2 hydrogen molecules with no leftover molecules.

1 answer

To balance the equation where you change to 3 molecules of \( H_2 \), you get:

\[ 3H_2 + 1.5O_2 \rightarrow 3H_2O \]

However, since we typically want whole numbers in a balanced chemical equation, we can multiply everything by 2 to eliminate the fraction:

\[ 6H_2 + 3O_2 \rightarrow 6H_2O \]

From this balanced equation, we can draw conclusions:

  • You produce 6 molecules of water from 6 molecules of hydrogen and 3 molecules of oxygen.
  • There are no leftover molecules since all the reactants are used up.

Now, let's evaluate the given statements:

  1. The equation will produce three molecules of water. (Incorrect, it produces 6 molecules of water.)
  2. The result of the equation will be the same. (Incorrect, the amount of water produced is different.)
  3. It is not possible to produce water without leftover molecules. (Incorrect, it is possible as shown in the balanced equation.)
  4. Each oxygen molecule will combine with 2 hydrogen molecules with no leftover molecules. (Correct, as each \( O_2 \) combines with 4 \( H_2 \) to produce 4 molecules of \( H_2O \) in the balanced equation.)

Thus, the correct statement is:

Each oxygen molecule will combine with 2 hydrogen molecules with no leftover molecules.