To determine which chemical equation correctly represents the formation of ammonia (NH₃), we'll need to analyze the options given and ensure the products and reactants match stoichiometrically based on known chemical knowledge.
Ammonia (NH₃) contains one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms. Therefore, to produce ammonia, we need both nitrogen and hydrogen atoms available in the correct proportions.
The correct balanced chemical equation for the formation of ammonia is:
[tex]\[ 3 H_2 + N_2 \rightarrow 2 NH_3 \][/tex]
Let's break this down:
1. Reactants:
- Nitrogen ([tex]\(N_2\)[/tex]): There is one molecule of [tex]\(N_2\)[/tex], which provides 2 nitrogen atoms.
- Hydrogen ([tex]\(H_2\)[/tex]): There are three molecules of [tex]\(H_2\)[/tex], and each molecule provides 2 hydrogen atoms, totaling 6 hydrogen atoms (3 x 2).
2. Products:
- Ammonia ([tex]\(NH_3\)[/tex]): There are 2 molecules of [tex]\(NH_3\)[/tex], each containing 1 nitrogen atom and 3 hydrogen atoms. So, this gives us a total of:
- Nitrogen atoms: 2 x 1 = 2
- Hydrogen atoms: 2 x 3 = 6
Thus, the reactants and products balance correctly in terms of the number of atoms, confirming the correct formation of ammonia.
Comparing this with the provided options:
A. [tex]\(3 H_2 + N_2 \rightarrow NH_3\)[/tex] — This equation is not balanced. The left side has 6 hydrogen atoms and 2 nitrogen atoms, while the right side has only 3 hydrogen atoms and 1 nitrogen atom.
B. [tex]\(H_2 + N_2 \rightarrow 2 NH_3\)[/tex] — This equation is also not balanced. The left side has 2 hydrogen atoms and 2 nitrogen atoms, while the right side has 6 hydrogen atoms and 2 nitrogen atoms.
C. [tex]\(H_2 + N_2 \rightarrow NH_3\)[/tex] — This equation is not balanced as well. The left side has 2 hydrogen atoms and 2 nitrogen atoms, while the right side has 3 hydrogen atoms and 1 nitrogen atom.
D. [tex]\(3 H_2 + N_2 \rightarrow 2 NH_3\)[/tex] — This equation is balanced, as shown by the breakdown above.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
D. [tex]\(3 H_2 + N_2 \rightarrow 2 NH_3\)[/tex]
