To determine the role of water ([tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]) in the given chemical reaction, we need to carefully analyze the balanced chemical equation:
[tex]\[
6 \, \text{CO}_2 + 6 \, \text{H}_2\text{O} \xrightarrow{\text{Light}} \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6 \, \text{O}_2
\][/tex]
In this reaction:
1. Reactants are the substances that start the reaction and are consumed during the process. They are found on the left side of the equation.
2. Products are the substances formed as a result of the reaction and are found on the right side of the equation.
3. Catalysts are substances that speed up the reaction without being consumed in the process. They are neither reactants nor products.
Next, let's identify each component in the equation:
- On the left side (reactants) we have [tex]\(6 \, \text{CO}_2\)[/tex] (carbon dioxide) and [tex]\(6 \, \text{H}_2\text{O}\)[/tex] (water).
- On the right side (products) we have [tex]\(\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6\)[/tex] (glucose) and [tex]\(6 \, \text{O}_2\)[/tex] (oxygen).
Since water ([tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]) appears on the left side of the equation and is used up in the formation of glucose and oxygen, it is clearly one of the starting substances required for the reaction to proceed.
Therefore, in this reaction, water ([tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]) is a reactant.
