Question

claiming conservation quick check
in photosynthesis, carbon dioxide (co₂) and water (h₂o) combine to form the sugar glucose (c₆h₁₂o₆) in the following reaction
6co₂ + 6h₂o → c₆h₁₂o₆ +?
assuming this equation is balanced, which part is missing from the product side?
(1 point)
6 oxygen atoms
12 oxygen atoms
6 carbon atoms
12 hydrogen atoms

Explanation:

Step1: Count atoms on the reactant side

• Carbon: In \(6CO_2\), there are \(6\times1 = 6\) carbon atoms. In \(6H_2O\), there are \(0\) carbon atoms. Total carbon atoms on reactant side \(=6\).
• Hydrogen: In \(6CO_2\), there are \(0\) hydrogen atoms. In \(6H_2O\), there are \(6\times2=12\) hydrogen atoms. Total hydrogen atoms on reactant side \(=12\).
• Oxygen: In \(6CO_2\), there are \(6\times2 = 12\) oxygen atoms. In \(6H_2O\), there are \(6\times1=6\) oxygen atoms. Total oxygen atoms on reactant side \(=12 + 6=18\).

Step2: Count atoms on the product side (excluding the unknown)

• Carbon: In \(C_6H_{12}O_6\), there are \(6\) carbon atoms.
• Hydrogen: In \(C_6H_{12}O_6\), there are \(12\) hydrogen atoms.
• Oxygen: In \(C_6H_{12}O_6\), there are \(6\) oxygen atoms.

Step3: Determine the missing part

• Since the equation is balanced, for oxygen: Let the number of \(O_2\) molecules be \(x\). The oxygen from the unknown part is \(2x\) (because each \(O_2\) molecule has \(2\) oxygen atoms). We know that total oxygen on reactant side \(=18\) and oxygen from \(C_6H_{12}O_6\) is \(6\). So \(2x+6 = 18\), which gives \(2x=12\) and \(x = 6\). The unknown is \(6O_2\), which has \(6\times2=12\) oxygen atoms.

Answer:

12 oxygen atoms