In which chemical equation is the number of atoms in the reactants the same as the number of atoms in the products?(1 point)

Responses

CO2 + H2O → CH2OH + O2
CO 2 + H 2 O → CH 2 OH + O 2

Zn + 2HCl → H2 + ZnCl2
Zn + 2HCl → H 2 + ZnCl 2

Li2CO3 → LiO + CO2
Li 2 CO 3 → LiO + CO 2

CH4 + O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
CH 4 + O 2 → CO 2 + 2H 2 O

1 answer

To determine which chemical equation has the same number of atoms in the reactants as in the products, we need to count the atoms on both sides for each equation.

  1. CO2 + H2O → CH2OH + O2

    • Reactants: C=1, O=3, H=2 (Total = 6)
    • Products: C=1, O=3, H=2 (Total = 6)
    • Atoms are balanced.
  2. Zn + 2HCl → H2 + ZnCl2

    • Reactants: Zn=1, H=2, Cl=2 (Total = 5)
    • Products: Zn=1, H=2, Cl=2 (Total = 5)
    • Atoms are balanced.
  3. Li2CO3 → LiO + CO2

    • Reactants: Li=2, C=1, O=3 (Total = 6)
    • Products: Li=1, O=1, C=1, O=2 (Total = 4)
    • Atoms are not balanced.
  4. CH4 + O2 → CO2 + 2H2O

    • Reactants: C=1, H=4, O=2 (Total = 7)
    • Products: C=1, H=4, O=4 (Total = 9)
    • Atoms are not balanced.

From this analysis, the first two equations are balanced with regard to the total number of atoms.

However, since you asked for just one equation, the answer is:

CO2 + H2O → CH2OH + O2 (and also Zn + 2HCl → H2 + ZnCl2).