Question

The following chemical equation is not balanced: CO2 + H2 CH4 + H2O When this chemical equation is correctly balanced, what is the coefficient of the water molecule?

Answer 1

this is a reaction of combustion of methane

CH₄ + 2O₂ = CO₂ + 2H₂O

k(H₂O)=2

Answer 2

Coefficient of water = 2

Step-by-step explanation:

A chemical reaction is said to be balanced when there are equal number of atoms/elements of one type on both the reactants and products side.

The given reaction is:

`CO_(2) + H_(2) \rightarrow CH_(4) + H_(2)O`

# Atoms in Reactants # Atoms in Products

C = 1 C = 1

O = 2 O = 1

H = 2 H = 6

The equation is not balanced since the number of O and H atoms are 2 each on the reactants and 1 and 6 respectively on the products side. In order to balance it, multiply H2 by 4 and H2O by 2 to get:

`CO_(2) + 4H_(2) \rightarrow CH_(4) + 2H_(2)O`

Therefore, the coefficient of H2O = 2