Use the equation to answer the question.

Question

\[CH_4 + 2 O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2O\]

Which statement describes why this chemical equation is not correct?

A. There are more carbons and oxygens on the left side than the right side.
B. There are more oxygens on the left side than the right side.
C. There are more hydrogen and oxygen atoms on the left side than the right side.
D. There are more carbons on the left side than the right side.

Answer 1

To evaluate the given chemical equation:

\[CH_4 + 2 O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2O\]

Let's count the number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation:

Left side:

• Carbons (C): 1 (from CH₄)
• Hydrogens (H): 4 (from CH₄)
• Oxygens (O): 4 (2 from O₂, since each O₂ has 2 O)

Right side:

• Carbons (C): 1 (from CO₂)
• Hydrogens (H): 2 (from H₂O)
• Oxygens (O): 3 (2 from CO₂ and 1 from H₂O)

Now, let's compare the atoms:

• Carbon: 1 on the left and 1 on the right (balanced)
• Hydrogen: 4 on the left and 2 on the right (unbalanced)
• Oxygen: 4 on the left and 3 on the right (unbalanced)

The issues are:

• More hydrogen on the left (4) than on the right (2).
• More oxygen on the left (4) than on the right (3).

The statement that best describes this situation is:

C. There are more hydrogen and oxygen atoms on the left side than the right side.