If 4 atoms of hydrogen react with 2 atoms of oxygen, which balanced chemical equation correctly represents the reaction?

• A. H_2 + O_2 ightarrow H_2O_2
• B. 2 H + O_2 ightarrow H_2O
• C. 2 H_2 + O_2 ightarrow 2 H_2O
• D. 4 H + 2 O ightarrow 2 H_2O

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the reactants and products involved in the reaction. Here, hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms combine to form water (H_2O).
2. Write the unbalanced chemical equation using molecular forms: hydrogen gas is H_2 and oxygen gas is O_2, so the initial equation is \(\text{H}_2 + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{O}\).
3. Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation. On the left, you have 2 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms; on the right, water has 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom per molecule.
4. Balance the oxygen atoms by adjusting coefficients. Since oxygen appears as O_2 on the left and as 1 oxygen atom in H_2O on the right, place a coefficient of 2 in front of H_2O to have 2 oxygen atoms on the right: \(\text{H}_2 + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{H}_2\text{O}\).
5. Balance the hydrogen atoms by adjusting coefficients. With 2 molecules of H_2O on the right, there are 4 hydrogen atoms, so place a coefficient of 2 in front of H_2 on the left: \$2 \text{H}_2 + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{H}_2\text{O}$. This equation is now balanced with 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms on both sides.