Question

the reactants and products of photosynthesis are made of the same amounts of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms. when 6 molecules of carbon dioxide gas (co₂) react with 6 molecules of water (h₂o), the atoms in those molecules are rearranged to produce 1 molecule of glucose (c₆h₁₂o₆) and 6 molecules of oxygen gas (o₂). which chemical equation is balanced and represents the overall process of photosynthesis? co₂ + h₂o → c₆h₁₂o₆ + 6o₂ 6co₂ + 6h₂o → c₆h₁₂o₆ + 6o₂ 6co₂ + 6h₂o → 6c₆h₁₂o₆ + 6o₂ co₂ + 6h₂o → 6c₆h₁₂o₆ + o₂

Explanation:

Step1: Check carbon atoms

In the first equation \(CO_{2}+H_{2}O
ightarrow C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}+6O_{2}\), left - hand side has 1 carbon atom (\(CO_{2}\)), right - hand side has 6 carbon atoms (\(C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}\)). Not balanced.
In the second equation \(6CO_{2}+6H_{2}O
ightarrow C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}+6O_{2}\), left - hand side has \(6\times1 = 6\) carbon atoms (\(6CO_{2}\)), right - hand side has 6 carbon atoms (\(C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}\)).
In the third equation \(6CO_{2}+6H_{2}O
ightarrow 6C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}+6O_{2}\), left - hand side has \(6\times1=6\) carbon atoms (\(6CO_{2}\)), right - hand side has \(6\times6 = 36\) carbon atoms (\(6C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}\)). Not balanced.
In the fourth equation \(CO_{2}+6H_{2}O
ightarrow 6C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}+O_{2}\), left - hand side has 1 carbon atom (\(CO_{2}\)), right - hand side has \(6\times6 = 36\) carbon atoms (\(6C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}\)). Not balanced.

Step2: Check hydrogen atoms

For the second equation \(6CO_{2}+6H_{2}O
ightarrow C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}+6O_{2}\), left - hand side has \(6\times2=12\) hydrogen atoms (\(6H_{2}O\)), right - hand side has 12 hydrogen atoms (\(C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}\)).

Step3: Check oxygen atoms

Left - hand side of the second equation \(6CO_{2}+6H_{2}O\): \(6\times2 + 6\times1=12 + 6=18\) oxygen atoms (\(6CO_{2}\) has \(6\times2\) oxygen atoms and \(6H_{2}O\) has \(6\times1\) oxygen atoms).
Right - hand side of the second equation \(C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}+6O_{2}\): \(6+6\times2=6 + 12 = 18\) oxygen atoms (\(C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}\) has 6 oxygen atoms and \(6O_{2}\) has \(6\times2\) oxygen atoms).

Answer:

\(6CO_{2}+6H_{2}O
ightarrow C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}+6O_{2}\)