Absolutely, let's delve into the given balanced chemical equation for the formation of water from hydrogen and oxygen:
[tex]\[ 2H_2(g) + O_2(g) \rightarrow 2H_2O(g) \][/tex]
We'll interpret this equation in terms of numbers of molecules, moles, and volumes of gases at Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP).
### Numbers of Molecules
First, consider the number of individual molecules:
1. Reactants:
- [tex]\(2\)[/tex] molecules of [tex]\(H_2\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(1\)[/tex] molecule of [tex]\(O_2\)[/tex]
2. Products:
- [tex]\(2\)[/tex] molecules of [tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]
So, the reaction indicates that 2 molecules of hydrogen gas ([tex]\(H_2\)[/tex]) react with 1 molecule of oxygen gas ([tex]\(O_2\)[/tex]) to form 2 molecules of water ([tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]).
### Moles
Next, let's talk about moles. The coefficients in a balanced chemical equation also represent the ratios of the substances in moles:
1. Reactants:
- [tex]\(2\)[/tex] moles of [tex]\(H_2\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(1\)[/tex] mole of [tex]\(O_2\)[/tex]
2. Products:
- [tex]\(2\)[/tex] moles of [tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]
Thus, in this reaction, 2 moles of hydrogen gas ([tex]\(H_2\)[/tex]) react with 1 mole of oxygen gas ([tex]\(O_2\)[/tex]) to produce 2 moles of water ([tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]).
### Volumes of Gases at STP
At STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure), 1 mole of any gas occupies [tex]\(22.4\)[/tex] liters. Thus, we can calculate the volume of each gas involved in the reaction:
1. Reactants:
- Volume of [tex]\(H_2\)[/tex]: [tex]\(2 \text{ moles} \times 22.4 \text{ liters/mole} = 44.8\)[/tex] liters
- Volume of [tex]\(O_2\)[/tex]: [tex]\(1 \text{ mole} \times 22.4 \text{ liters/mole} = 22.4\)[/tex] liters
2. Products:
- Volume of [tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]: [tex]\(2 \text{ moles} \times 22.4 \text{ liters/mole} = 44.8\)[/tex] liters
Therefore, according to the equation, 44.8 liters of hydrogen gas ([tex]\(H_2\)[/tex]) react with 22.4 liters of oxygen gas ([tex]\(O_2\)[/tex]) to produce 44.8 liters of water vapor ([tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]) at STP.
This interpretation comprehensively covers the molecule counts, moles, and gas volumes at standard conditions, aligning with the balanced chemical equation provided.
