Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
To prove that the balanced symbol equation 2Cu + O₂ → 2CuO is correct, we need to make sure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. We can do this by counting the number of atoms of each element in the reactants and products and comparing them.
On the left-hand side of the equation, we have:
2 atoms of copper (Cu)
2 atoms of oxygen (O)
On the right-hand side of the equation, we have:
2 atoms of copper (Cu)
1 molecule of oxygen gas, which contains 2 atoms of oxygen (O₂)
2 molecules of copper oxide, each containing 1 atom of copper and 1 atom of oxygen (CuO)
To balance the equation, we can see that we need to double the amount of oxygen on the left-hand side. This gives us:
2Cu + 1O₂ → 2CuO
Now we have:
2 atoms of copper (Cu)
2 atoms of oxygen (O)
on the left-hand side, and:
2 atoms of copper (Cu)
2 atoms of oxygen (O)
on the right-hand side, so the equation is balanced.
Therefore, we have shown that the balanced symbol equation 2Cu + O₂ → 2CuO is correct.