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.

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

The result of the equation will be the same.

1 answer

To balance the modified equation \(3H_2 + O_2 \rightarrow\) (products), let's first write down the unbalanced equation:

\[ 3H_2 + O_2 \rightarrow? \]

  1. The reactants consist of 3 hydrogen molecules (H2) and 1 oxygen molecule (O2).
  2. Each water molecule (H2O) consists of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.

Now, if we look to balance the equation, we can determine that:

  • 3 molecules of \(H_2\) provide \(3 \times 2 = 6\) hydrogen atoms.
  • To use those 6 hydrogen atoms, we would need \(3\) water molecules (since each water molecule contains 2 hydrogen atoms).
  • Therefore, the balanced equation would be:

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

Now looking at the statements provided:

  1. The equation will produce three molecules of water. - This is correct since the balanced equation shows that 3 molecules of \(H_2O\) are produced.

  2. It is not possible to produce water without leftover molecules. - This is incorrect because the reaction balances perfectly.

  3. Each oxygen molecule will combine with 2 hydrogen molecules with no leftover molecules. - This is partially correct in the context of a single \(O_2\) molecule, which does contribute to combining with 3 \(H_2\) molecules.

  4. The result of the equation will be the same. - This is incorrect because changing \(2H_2\) to \(3H_2\) changes the result.

The correct statement is: The equation will produce three molecules of water.