In the equation below, carbon dioxide and water react to make sugar and oxygen. This reaction (photosynthesis) takes place inside plants and is the basis for almost all life on Earth.

Question

6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 402

How many molecules of carbon dioxide are involved in this reaction? How many molecules of sugar are produced in this reaction?

How many atoms of carbon are on the left hand side of this equation?

How many atoms of carbon are on the right hand side of this equation? Is the carbon balanced?

How many atoms of hydrogen are on the left hand side of this equation?

How many atoms of hydrogen are on the right hand side of this equation? Is the hydrogen balanced?

How many atoms of oxygen are on the left hand side of this equation? How many atoms of oxygen are on the right hand side of this equation? Is the oxygen balanced?

Can you change one number above to balance the chemical equation?

Answer 1

Let's break down the given chemical equation for photosynthesis:

\[ 6CO_2 + 6H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \]

1. How many molecules of carbon dioxide are involved in this reaction?

   • There are 6 molecules of carbon dioxide (6 CO₂) on the left side of the equation.

2. How many molecules of sugar are produced in this reaction?

   • The reaction produces 1 molecule of sugar (C₆H₁₂O₆) on the right side of the equation.

3. How many atoms of carbon are on the left-hand side of this equation?

   • From 6 CO₂, there are 6 carbon atoms (as each CO₂ has 1 carbon atom).

4. How many atoms of carbon are on the right-hand side of this equation? Is the carbon balanced?

   • In C₆H₁₂O₆, there are 6 carbon atoms.
   • Yes, the carbon is balanced because there are 6 carbon atoms on both sides of the equation.

5. How many atoms of hydrogen are on the left-hand side of this equation?

   • From 6 H₂O, there are 12 hydrogen atoms (as each H₂O has 2 hydrogen atoms).

6. How many atoms of hydrogen are on the right-hand side of this equation? Is the hydrogen balanced?

   • In C₆H₁₂O₆, there are 12 hydrogen atoms.
   • Yes, the hydrogen is balanced because there are 12 hydrogen atoms on both sides of the equation.

7. How many atoms of oxygen are on the left-hand side of this equation?

   • From 6 CO₂, there are \( 6 \times 2 = 12 \) oxygen atoms and from 6 H₂O, there are \( 6 \times 1 = 6 \) oxygen atoms.
   • Thus, the total is \( 12 + 6 = 18 \) oxygen atoms on the left-hand side.

8. How many atoms of oxygen are on the right-hand side of this equation? Is the oxygen balanced?

   • In C₆H₁₂O₆, there are 6 oxygen atoms and in 6 O₂, there are \( 6 \times 2 = 12 \) oxygen atoms.
   • Thus, the total is \( 6 + 12 = 18 \) oxygen atoms on the right-hand side.
   • Yes, the oxygen is balanced because there are 18 oxygen atoms on both sides of the equation.

9. Can you change one number above to balance the chemical equation?

   • The original equation is already balanced as provided with the coefficients of 6, 6, and 1 for CO₂, H₂O, and C₆H₁₂O₆ respectively, and 6 for O₂. Therefore, no changes are needed for the equation to be balanced.

In summary, the equation is balanced as presented, and no changes are necessary.