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Ch.4 - Chemical Reactions and Chemical Quantities
Chapter 4, Problem 19b

Write the balanced chemical equation for each reaction. b. Gaseous carbon monoxide reacts with hydrogen gas to form gaseous methane (CH4) and liquid water.

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Identify the reactants and products in the chemical reaction: Reactants are carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen gas (H2), and products are methane (CH4) and water (H2O).
Write the unbalanced chemical equation using the chemical formulas: CO(g) + H2(g) -> CH4(g) + H2O(l).
Balance the carbon atoms: There is 1 carbon atom in CO and 1 in CH4, so carbon is already balanced.
Balance the hydrogen atoms: There are 2 hydrogen atoms in H2 and 4 in CH4, so you need 2 H2 molecules to provide 4 hydrogen atoms.
Balance the oxygen atoms: There is 1 oxygen atom in CO and 1 in H2O, so oxygen is already balanced.

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Key Concepts

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

Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing chemical equations involves ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both the reactant and product sides. This is based on 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 in front of the chemical formulas.
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Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It allows chemists to predict the amounts of substances consumed and produced in a reaction. Understanding stoichiometry is essential for balancing equations and calculating yields, as it provides the ratios needed to relate different substances.
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States of Matter

The states of matter refer to the distinct forms that different phases of matter take on, primarily solid, liquid, and gas. In chemical equations, the physical state of each substance is indicated by symbols: (s) for solid, (l) for liquid, and (g) for gas. Recognizing the states of matter is crucial for accurately writing and interpreting chemical equations.
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