Answer:
2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O
Explanation:
The problem tells us that hydrogen gas (H₂) and oxygen gas (O₂) are the reactants, while water (H₂O) is the only product. Thus, the reaction is:
H₂ + O₂ → H₂O
In order to balance this equation, we begin with counting the atoms of O present in the left side and in the right side of the equation. Because there are two O atoms in the left but only one on the right, we add a coefficient of 2 in the right side:
H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O
Now we count the H atoms, there are 2 in the left and 4 in the right, so we add a coefficient of 2 for the hydrogen gas:
2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O
Now there are 4 H atoms in both sides, and 2 O atoms in both sides, so the equation is balanced.
