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Multiple Choice
Consider the following unbalanced chemical equation: C_2H_5OH + O_2 → CO_2 + H_2O. What is the total number of oxygen atoms on the right-hand side of this chemical equation?
A
5
B
4
C
2
D
3
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the chemical species on the right-hand side of the equation: carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)) and water (\(H_2O\)).
Determine the number of oxygen atoms in each molecule on the right-hand side: \(CO_2\) contains 2 oxygen atoms, and \(H_2O\) contains 1 oxygen atom.
Express the total number of oxygen atoms on the right side as a sum of oxygen atoms from all products, considering their coefficients (which are currently unknown because the equation is unbalanced).
Balance the chemical equation to find the correct coefficients for \(CO_2\) and \(H_2O\). This involves balancing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms step-by-step.
Once the equation is balanced, multiply the number of oxygen atoms in each product molecule by its coefficient and add them together to find the total number of oxygen atoms on the right-hand side.