the equation

2H2 + 102 → 2H20
if you change the 2H2 to 3H2 molecules and balance the equation, identify which statement is correct?
(1 point)
O It is not possible to produce water without leftover molecules.
•The equation will produce three molecules of water.
• The result of the equation will be the same.

1 answer

To balance the modified equation with 3H₂ (instead of 2H₂), we start with:

3H₂ + O₂ → ?

  1. For 3 molecules of H₂, which is \(3 \times 2 = 6\) hydrogen atoms, we need 3 molecules of water (H₂O) to balance the hydrogen.

  2. The balanced equation would then be:

    \[ 3H₂ + \frac{3}{2}O₂ → 3H₂O \]

However, since we typically express equations using whole numbers, we can multiply the entire equation by 2 to eliminate the fraction:

\[ 6H₂ + 3O₂ → 6H₂O \]

Now examining the statements:

  1. It is not possible to produce water without leftover molecules. - This is not true since the equation is balanced, and all the reactants are consumed.

  2. The equation will produce three molecules of water. - This is true if referring to the original unbalanced equation with 3H₂.

  3. The result of the equation will be the same. - This is a bit ambiguous, but in context, this can imply that water is still produced, which is true but under different stoichiometric amounts.

The most straightforward correct statement is:

  • The equation will produce three molecules of water.