Question

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

Explanation:

Step1: Count atoms in reactants

For \(C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2\):

• Carbon: \(6\) (from \(C_6H_{12}O_6\))
• Hydrogen: \(12\) (from \(C_6H_{12}O_6\))
• Oxygen: \(6\) (from \(C_6H_{12}O_6\)) \(+ 12\) (from \(6O_2\)) \(= 18\)

Step2: Count atoms in products for each option

• **Option 1 (\(6C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2

ightarrow CO_2 + 6H_2O\))**:

• Carbon: \(1\) (from \(CO_2\)) vs \(36\) (from \(6C_6H_{12}O_6\)) → Not balanced
• **Option 2 (\(C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2

ightarrow CO_2 + H_2O\))**:

• Carbon: \(1\) (from \(CO_2\)) vs \(6\) (from \(C_6H_{12}O_6\)) → Not balanced
• **Option 3 (\(6C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2

ightarrow 6CO_2 + H_2O\))**:

• Carbon: \(6\) (from \(6CO_2\)) vs \(36\) (from \(6C_6H_{12}O_6\)) → Not balanced
• **Option 4 (\(C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2

ightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O\))**:

• Carbon: \(6\) (from \(6CO_2\))
• Hydrogen: \(12\) (from \(6H_2O\))
• Oxygen: \(12\) (from \(6CO_2\)) \(+ 6\) (from \(6H_2O\)) \(= 18\) → Balanced

Answer:

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