When the following molecular equation is balanced using the smallest possible integer coefficients, the values of these coefficients are:

___carbon (graphite) (s) + ____oxygen (g)- ____carbon dioxide (g)

Question

When the following molecular equation is balanced using the smallest possible integer coefficients, the values of these coefficients are:

___carbon (graphite) (s) + ____oxygen (g)-> ____carbon dioxide (g)

anonymous · Answer

please help

joannablackwelder · Answer

Oxygen is diatomic, so the reaction is
C + O2 -> CO2. Make sense so far?

anonymous · Answer

okay 
yes so the next step

joannablackwelder · Answer

Since we have figured out the reactants and products, we need to balance the number of atoms on each side of the reaction.

joannablackwelder · Answer

The number of carbons and oxygens on each side must be the same.

joannablackwelder · Answer

If we need to make any changes, we would only change the coefficients, not the molecules.

joannablackwelder · Answer

But this reaction is already balanced, so it stays as it is. :)

anonymous · Answer

okay that makes sense

anonymous · Answer

great thank you so much

joannablackwelder · Answer

No worries. :)