Question

balance this equation. _ch4 + _o2 --> _co2 + _h2o

Explanation:

Step1: Count atoms

Count the number of each atom on both sides of the equation.
For \(CH_4 + O_2
ightarrow CO_2 + H_2O\), on the left - hand side (LHS): \(C = 1\), \(H=4\), \(O = 2\). On the right - hand side (RHS): \(C = 1\), \(H = 2\), \(O=3\).

Step2: Balance hydrogen

To balance hydrogen, since there are 4 H atoms on the LHS (\(CH_4\)) and 2 H atoms on the RHS (\(H_2O\)), we put a coefficient of 2 in front of \(H_2O\). The equation becomes \(CH_4+O_2
ightarrow CO_2 + 2H_2O\). Now, LHS: \(C = 1\), \(H = 4\), \(O = 2\). RHS: \(C = 1\), \(H = 4\), \(O=4\).

Step3: Balance oxygen

To balance oxygen, since there are 4 O atoms on the RHS (\(CO_2\) has 2 O and \(2H_2O\) has 2 O) and 2 O atoms on the LHS (\(O_2\)), we put a coefficient of 2 in front of \(O_2\). The balanced equation is \(CH_4+2O_2
ightarrow CO_2 + 2H_2O\).

Answer:

1,2,1,2 (corresponding to the coefficients of \(CH_4\), \(O_2\), \(CO_2\), \(H_2O\) respectively)