Answer: 2 H₂ + O₂ ⇒ 2 H₂O
Step-by-step explanation:
H₂ + O₂ ⇒ H₂O
There needs to be the same amount of each atom on both sides of the equation.
Step 1
There are 2 oxygen atoms on the left side of the equation and 1 oxygen atom on the right side of the equation.
Place a 2 in front of H₂O on the right side of the equation to balance the oxygen atoms.
H₂ + O₂ ⇒ 2 H₂O
Now the oxygen atoms are balanced, with 2 on each side of the equation.
Step 2
H₂ + O₂ ⇒ 2 H₂O
There are 2 hydrogen atoms on the left side of the equation and 4 hydrogen atoms on the right side of the equation (2 x 2 = 4).
Place a 2 in front of H₂ on the left side of the equation.
2 H₂ + O₂ ⇒ 2 H₂O
Now the hydrogen atoms are balanced.
The entire equation is balanced because there are equal numbers of each atom on both sides of the equation.