Question

What needs to be done to balance this equation

Do you nothing (equation is balanced)

Change O2 to O4 on the left side of the equation

Add coefficient 2 to O2 on the left side of the equation

Remove Coefficient in front of H2O on the right side of the equation

Answer 1

Add Coefficient 2 to the O2 on the left side of the equation.

Answer 2

Answer : The correct option is, Add coefficient 2 to
`O_2` on the left side of the equation.

Explanation :

Balanced chemical reaction : It is defined as the reaction in which the number of atoms of individual elements present on reactant side must be equal to the product side.

The reactants and the products are separated by right arrow.

The species present on the left side of the right arrow is known as reactant and the species present on the right side of the right arrow is known as product.

If the amount of atoms of each type on the left and right sides of a reaction differs then to balance the equation by adding coefficient in the front of the elements or molecule or compound in the chemical equation.

The coefficient tell us about that how many molecules or atoms present in the chemical equation.

The given chemical reaction is,

`CH_4+O_2\rightarrow CO_2+2H_2O`

This reaction is an unbalanced chemical reaction because in this reaction number of oxygen atoms are not balanced.

In order to balance the chemical equation, the coefficient '2' put before the
`O_2` and we get the balanced chemical equation.

The balanced chemical reaction will be,

`CH_4+2O_2\rightarrow CO_2+2H_2O`

Hence, the correct option is, Add coefficient 2 to
`O_2` on the left side of the equation.