Question

use the equation to answer the question.

ch₄ + ____cl₂ → ccl₄ + ____hcl

which numbers balance this equation?

(1 point)

○ 3, 2

○ 2, 4

○ 1, 2

○ 4, 4

Explanation:

Step1: Balance hydrogen atoms

On the left - hand side, there are 4 hydrogen atoms in \(CH_{4}\). On the right - hand side, hydrogen is in \(HCl\). Let the coefficient of \(HCl\) be \(x\). So \(x = 4\) (since \(H\) atoms must be balanced: \(4H\) in \(CH_{4}\) and \(xH\) in \(xHCl\)).

Step2: Balance chlorine atoms

On the right - hand side, there are \(4\) chlorine atoms in \(CCl_{4}\) and \(4\) chlorine atoms in \(4HCl\) (total of \(4 + 4=8\) \(Cl\) atoms). On the left - hand side, chlorine is in \(Cl_{2}\). Let the coefficient of \(Cl_{2}\) be \(y\). Since each \(Cl_{2}\) molecule has 2 \(Cl\) atoms, and we need 8 \(Cl\) atoms in total from \(Cl_{2}\), then \(2y=8\), so \(y = 4\).

The balanced equation is \(CH_{4}+4Cl_{2}\to CCl_{4}+4HCl\)

Answer:

4, 4