Which of the following is the balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis?

• A. C6H12O6 + 12 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O
• B. C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O
• C. 6 CO2 + 12 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O
• D. 6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the reactants and products in the photosynthesis process. Photosynthesis involves carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) as reactants, and glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2) as products.
2. Write the unbalanced chemical equation for photosynthesis: CO2 + H2O → C6H12O6 + O2.
3. Balance the carbon atoms. There are 6 carbon atoms in glucose (C6H12O6), so you need 6 CO2 molecules on the reactant side: 6 CO2 + H2O → C6H12O6 + O2.
4. Balance the hydrogen atoms. There are 12 hydrogen atoms in glucose, so you need 6 H2O molecules on the reactant side: 6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + O2.
5. Balance the oxygen atoms. Count the oxygen atoms on both sides. The reactant side has 18 oxygen atoms (12 from 6 CO2 and 6 from 6 H2O), and the product side needs 18 oxygen atoms (6 in C6H12O6 and 12 in 6 O2). Therefore, the balanced equation is: 6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2.