Question

What is the stoichiometric coefficient for O₂ when the following equation is balanced using the smallest, whole-number coefficients?

_____C₈H₁₈O₃(I)+_______O₂(g) = _____ 4CO₂(g)+______H₂O(g)
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 6
E) 9

Answer 1

The stoichiometric coefficient for O₂ in the balanced chemical equation 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O is 1, representing a molar ratio of reactants and products.

Step-by-step explanation:

The stoichiometric coefficient for O₂ when balancing the chemical equation 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O using the smallest, whole-number coefficients is 1. This is determined by examining the balanced equation and noting that the coefficients represent the molar ratios of the reactants and products. The balanced equation indicates that 2 moles of hydrogen (H₂) react with 1 mole of oxygen (O₂) to produce 2 moles of water (H₂O). Therefore, when simplified, the required stoichiometric coefficient for O₂ is 1, which is already the smallest whole number possible.

Balanced chemical equations not only represent the molecular level but also the molar amounts of reactants and products involved in the reaction. Thus, this balanced equation can also be read as "two moles of hydrogen react with one mole of oxygen to produce two moles of water," showing that the stoichiometric coefficients can be directly interpreted as ratios of the volume of gases, provided the gases are under the same conditions of temperature and pressure.