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 Each oxygen molecule will combine with 2 hydrogen molecules with no leftover molecules. Each oxygen molecule will combine with 2 hydrogen molecules with no leftover molecules. It is not possible to produce water without leftover molecules. It is not possible to produce water without leftover molecules. 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.

1 answer

To balance the modified equation where you have 3H₂ instead of 2H₂, we start with:

3H₂ + O₂ → H₂O

Balancing the equation, we need to ensure that the number of atoms on both sides remains the same.

  1. We start with 3 hydrogen (H) from 3 molecules of H₂.
  2. Since each molecule of water (H₂O) contains 2 hydrogen atoms, to balance the 3 hydrogen atoms, we need to produce 1.5 molecules of water, which isn't practical since we cannot have half a molecule.

To balance it fully, if we use 3 molecules of H₂, the balanced equation would be:

3H₂ + 1.5O₂ → 3H₂O

This means if we're strictly balancing the reaction, we would need 1.5 molecules of O₂, which would imply that we still do not achieve whole molecules on both sides without leftover.

Now evaluating the options given:

  1. "Each oxygen molecule will combine with 2 hydrogen molecules with no leftover molecules." - This is incorrect in this scenario.

  2. "It is not possible to produce water without leftover molecules." - This could be considered correct in this altered context with 3H₂, as it leads to half a molecule of O₂.

  3. "The equation will produce three molecules of water." - This is also correct in that if balanced, we would yield three molecules of water, but we do have the half O₂ issue.

  4. "The result of the equation will be the same." - This seems incorrect, as changing the amount of H₂ alters the balance.

Thus, the most accurate statement from the choices is:

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