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Ch. 2 - The Chemical Context of Life
All textbooksUrry 11th EditionCh. 2 - The Chemical Context of LifeProblem 8
Chapter 2, Problem 8

What coefficients must be placed in the following blanks so that all atoms are accounted for in the products?
C6H12O6 → _____C2H6O + _____CO2
a. 2; 1
b. 3; 1
c. 1; 3
d. 2; 2

Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the number of each type of atom in the reactant, C6H12O6. There are 6 carbon (C), 12 hydrogen (H), and 6 oxygen (O) atoms.
Write the chemical formulas for the products: C2H6O (ethanol) and CO2 (carbon dioxide). Ethanol contains 2 carbon, 6 hydrogen, and 1 oxygen atom, while carbon dioxide contains 1 carbon and 2 oxygen atoms.
Set up a system of equations to balance the atoms. For carbon: 6 = 2x + y, where x is the coefficient for C2H6O and y is the coefficient for CO2.
For hydrogen: 12 = 6x, solve for x to find the coefficient for C2H6O.
For oxygen: 6 = x + 2y, solve for y using the value of x obtained from the hydrogen balance.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Chemical Equation Balancing

Balancing chemical equations involves ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation. This reflects the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. To balance an equation, coefficients are adjusted to achieve equal numbers of each type of atom in the reactants and products.
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Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions. It uses the balanced chemical equation to determine the proportions of substances involved. Understanding stoichiometry is essential for predicting the amounts of products formed and reactants needed, as it relies on the mole concept and the relationships between different chemical species.

Molecular Composition

Molecular composition refers to the specific arrangement and number of atoms in a molecule, which defines its chemical identity. In the context of the given equation, understanding the molecular composition of glucose (C6H12O6), ethanol (C2H6O), and carbon dioxide (CO2) is crucial for determining how these molecules can be rearranged and balanced in a chemical reaction.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Which of the following statements correctly describes any chemical reaction that has reached equilibrium?

a. The concentrations of products and reactants are equal.

b. The reaction is now irreversible.

c. Both forward and reverse reactions have halted.

d. The rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal.

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Textbook Question

We can represent atoms by listing the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons—for example, 2p+, 2p+,2n0,2e− for helium. Which of the following represents the 18O isotope of oxygen?

a. 7p+, 2n0, 9e−

b. 8p+, 10n0, 8e−

c. 9p+, 9n0, 9e−

d. 10p+, 8n0, 9e-

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Textbook Question

The atomic number of sulfur is 16. Sulfur combines with hydrogen by covalent bonding to form a compound, hydrogen sulfide. Based on the number of valence electrons in a sulfur atom, predict the molecular formula of the compound.

a. HS

b. HS2

c. H2S

d. H4S

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Textbook Question

Draw Lewis dot structures for each hypothetical molecule shown below, using the correct number of valence electrons for each atom. Determine which molecule makes sense because each atom has a complete valence shell, and each bond has the correct number of electrons. Explain what makes the other molecule nonsensical, considering the number of bonds each type of atom can make.

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