This chemical reaction is depicted:

Question

SnO2 + H2 → Sn + H2O
What can be affirmed regarding this chemical reaction?
A. It is unbalanced due to the fact that the mass of the reactants exceeds the mass of the products.
B. It is balanced as the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products.
C. It is unbalanced as the mass of the reactants is less than the mass of the products.
D. It is balanced because the quantity of reactants matches the quantity of products.

Answer 1

To determine the validity of the statements regarding the chemical reaction:

SnO₂ + H₂ → Sn + H₂O

Let's first check if the equation is balanced:

On the reactant side, we have:

• Tin (Sn): 1 atom
• Oxygen (O): 2 atoms
• Hydrogen (H): 2 atoms

On the product side, we have:

• Tin (Sn): 1 atom
• Oxygen (O): 1 atom
• Hydrogen (H): 2 atoms (from H₂O)

Now comparing both sides:

• Tin (Sn): 1 on both sides
• Oxygen (O): 2 in reactants and 1 in products (not balanced)
• Hydrogen (H): 2 on both sides

Since there are 2 oxygen atoms in the reactants but only 1 in the products, the reaction is not balanced.

Given that the mass of the reactants does not equal the mass of the products due to the oxygen imbalance, the correct affirmation regarding this chemical reaction is:

A. It is unbalanced due to the fact that the mass of the reactants exceeds the mass of the products.