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12 votes
What are the correct coefficients?

_____ H2 + _____ O2 >>>> _____ H2O

User Alexey  Usharovski
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1 Answer

23 votes
23 votes

Answer: __2__ H
_2 + __1__ O
_2 >>>> __2__ H
_2O

Explanation:

To balance this equation, we must be sure that the amount of H [hydrogen] and O [oxygen] is the same on both sides. I will be using, and showing, a method my teacher showed me to help us solve.

First, we will write out what we have:

_____ H
_2 + _____ O
_2 >>>> _____ H
_2O

H 2 >>>> H 2

O 2 >>>> O 1

Then, we see that the O [oxygen] is unbalanced. We will use a coefficient of 2 to balance them. Then, we will multiply this through and see what we now have on the right side, the product.

_____ H
_2 + _____ O
_2 >>>> __2__ H
_2O

H 2 >>>> H 4

O 2 >>>> O 2

Next, now we see the H [hydrogen] is unbalanced. We will use a coefficient of 2 to balance them. Again, we will multiply it through to see what we have on the left side, the reactants.

After this, the equation is balanced and we have our answer.

__2__ H
_2 + __1__ O
_2 >>>> __2__ H
_2O

H 4 >>>> H 4

O 2 >>>> O 2

User Maths
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