Question

1. balance the following chemical reaction for photosynthesis

carbon dioxide
co2
+
water
h2o
light
→
glucose
c6h12o6
+
oxygen
o2
photosynthesis

Explanation:

Step1: Balance carbon atoms

The unbalanced equation is \(CO_2 + H_2O
ightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6+O_2\). There are 6 carbon atoms in \(C_6H_{12}O_6\). So, we put a coefficient of 6 in front of \(CO_2\). The equation becomes \(6CO_2 + H_2O
ightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6+O_2\).

Step2: Balance hydrogen atoms

There are 12 hydrogen atoms in \(C_6H_{12}O_6\). Since each \(H_2O\) molecule has 2 hydrogen atoms, we put a coefficient of 6 in front of \(H_2O\). The equation is now \(6CO_2 + 6H_2O
ightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6+O_2\).

Step3: Balance oxygen atoms

On the left - hand side, in \(6CO_2\) there are \(6\times2 = 12\) oxygen atoms and in \(6H_2O\) there are \(6\times1=6\) oxygen atoms. So, total oxygen atoms on the left - hand side \(=12 + 6=18\). In \(C_6H_{12}O_6\) there are 6 oxygen atoms. Let the coefficient of \(O_2\) be \(x\). Then \(6 + 2x=18\). Solving for \(x\), we get \(2x=18 - 6=12\), so \(x = 6\).

Answer:

\(6CO_2+6H_2O
ightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2\)