To determine the outcome of the reaction between water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), consider the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a well-known biological process in which plants and other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy, producing glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂) as end products.
The balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis is:
[tex]\[ 6 H_2O + 6 CO_2 \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6 O_2 \][/tex]
Breaking it down step-by-step:
1. Reactants Identification: Water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) are the reactants.
2. Stoichiometry of Reactants: It takes 6 molecules of water and 6 molecules of carbon dioxide to balance the equation.
3. Products Formation: These reactants are transformed into glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂) as the final products.
4. Stoichiometry of Products: For every 6 molecules of water and 6 molecules of carbon dioxide, 1 molecule of glucose and 6 molecules of oxygen are produced.
Thus, the products of this reaction are:
[tex]\[ C_6 H_{12} O_6 + 6 O_2 \][/tex]
In conclusion, when water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) undergo a reaction, typically via photosynthesis, the products formed are glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂).
