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4 votes
Which equation shows conservation of atoms?

A) H2 + O 2 --> H2O
B) H2 + O 2 --> 2H2O
C) 2H2 + O2 --> 2H2O
D) 2H2 + 2O2 --> 2H2O

2 Answers

4 votes

Final answer:

The equation that represents the conservation of atoms is 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O, as it has an equal number of hydrogen and oxygen atoms on both sides, adhering to the law of conservation of matter. So the correcct option is C.

Step-by-step explanation:

The equation that shows the conservation of atoms is C) 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O. This is because both sides of the equation have an equal number of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. There are four hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms on both the reactant side (2H₂ and O₂) and the product side (2H₂O). By balancing the equation, it maintains the law of conservation of matter, which states that matter cannot be destroyed or created in a chemical reaction.

User Jugal Thakkar
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8.1k points
3 votes

Answer: The equation showing conservation of atoms is
2H_2+O_2\rightarrow H_2O

Step-by-step explanation:

Every balanced chemical equation follows law of conservation of mass.

This law states that mass can neither be created nor be destroyed but it can only be transformed from one form to another form. This also means that total number of individual atoms on reactant side must be equal to the total number of individual atoms on the product side.

For the given chemical equations:

  • Option A:

The given chemical equation follows:


H_2+O_2\rightarrow H_2O

There are 2 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms on the reactant side and 2 hydrogen and 1 oxygen atom on product side.

So, this equation does not show conservation of atoms.

  • Option B:

The given chemical equation follows:


H_2+O_2\rightarrow 2H_2O

There are 2 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms on the reactant side and 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms on product side.

So, this equation does not show conservation of atoms.

  • Option C:

The given chemical equation follows:


2H_2+O_2\rightarrow H_2O

There are 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms on the reactant side and 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms on product side.

So, this equation shows conservation of atoms.

  • Option D:

The given chemical equation follows:


2H_2+2O_2\rightarrow 2H_2O

There are 4 hydrogen atoms and 4 oxygen atoms on the reactant side and 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms on product side.

So, this equation does not show conservation of atoms.

Hence, the equation showing conservation of atoms is
2H_2+O_2\rightarrow H_2O

User Chris Flynn
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8.5k points