The equation that represents the conservation of matter must have the same number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.
Let's analyze the options:
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3H2O + 3CO2 → C6H12O6 + 6O2
- Reactants: 3 H2O (6 H, 3 O) + 3 CO2 (3 C, 6 O) → total: 6 C, 12 H, 9 O
- Products: C6H12O6 (6 C, 12 H, 6 O) + 6 O2 (0 C, 0 H, 12 O) → total: 6 C, 12 H, 18 O
- Not balanced (O is not conserved).
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6H2O + 10CO2 → C6H12O6 + 4O2
- Reactants: 6 H2O (12 H, 6 O) + 10 CO2 (10 C, 20 O) → total: 10 C, 12 H, 26 O
- Products: C6H12O6 (6 C, 12 H, 6 O) + 4 O2 (0 C, 0 H, 8 O) → total: 6 C, 12 H, 14 O
- Not balanced (C and O are not conserved).
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6H2O + 6CO2 → C6H12O6 + 6O2
- Reactants: 6 H2O (12 H, 6 O) + 6 CO2 (6 C, 12 O) → total: 6 C, 12 H, 18 O
- Products: C6H12O6 (6 C, 12 H, 6 O) + 6 O2 (0 C, 0 H, 12 O) → total: 6 C, 12 H, 18 O
- Balanced! This equation conserves matter.
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6H2O + 6CO2 → C3H6O3 + 3O2
- Reactants: 6 H2O (12 H, 6 O) + 6 CO2 (6 C, 12 O) → total: 6 C, 12 H, 18 O
- Products: C3H6O3 (3 C, 6 H, 3 O) + 3 O2 (0 C, 0 H, 6 O) → total: 3 C, 6 H, 9 O
- Not balanced (C, H, and O are not conserved).
Thus, the only equation that accurately represents the conservation of matter is:
3. 6H2O + 6CO2 → C6H12O6 + 6O2
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