Final answer:
To increase the rate of the water synthesis reaction (2H₂(g) + O₂(g) → 2H₂O(g)), the temperature of the reactants should be increased. This raises the internal energy, leading to more energetic molecular collisions and a faster reaction rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The synthesis of water can be accelerated by increasing the temperature of the reactants according to the chemical equation 2H₂(g) + O₂(g) → 2H₂O(g). By increasing the temperature, the internal energy of the system is increased, which has the effect of increasing the rate at which reactants convert to products. This does not mean that the composition of products will change in a direct way for this reaction, as the final products and reactants will still need to be balanced, but the reaction rate itself will be increased.
Therefore, the correct way to increase the rate of the reaction is option 1, by increasing the temperature of the reactants.
Increasing the temperature will typically increase the kinetic energy of molecules, leading to more frequent and energetic collisions, which is conducive to a more rapid rate of reaction. This principle applies generally to exothermic and endothermic reactions, though it is important to note that for some reactions, particularly those that are reversible, the direction of the equilibrium may shift with temperature changes due to Le Chatelier's principle.
This does not have the same effect as in a reverse reaction, such as in the synthesis of hydrogen iodide where increasing the temperature shifts the equilibrium towards the reactants. In the case of the synthesis of water, the reaction proceeds forward, and increasing the temperature simply increases the reaction rate.