To determine the correct chemical equation representing the formation of ammonia ([tex]\( NH_3 \)[/tex]), we need to balance the chemical reaction between hydrogen ([tex]\( H_2 \)[/tex]) and nitrogen ([tex]\( N_2 \)[/tex]).
Here's the detailed step-by-step process:
1. Write the unbalanced reaction:
[tex]\[
H_2 + N_2 \rightarrow NH_3
\][/tex]
2. Identify the number of atoms of each element on both reactant and product sides:
- Reactants: [tex]\( H_2 \)[/tex] (hydrogen) and [tex]\( N_2 \)[/tex] (nitrogen)
- Products: [tex]\( NH_3 \)[/tex] (ammonia)
3. Start by balancing the nitrogen atoms:
[tex]\[
N_2 \rightarrow 2 \, NH_3
\][/tex]
This gives us:
[tex]\[
N_2 \rightarrow 2 \, NH_3
\][/tex]
Now we have 2 nitrogen atoms on both sides (1 molecule of [tex]\( N_2 \)[/tex] has 2 nitrogen atoms, and 2 molecules of [tex]\( NH_3 \)[/tex] also have 2 nitrogen atoms).
4. Next, balance the hydrogen atoms:
- Each molecule of [tex]\( NH_3 \)[/tex] has 3 hydrogen atoms.
- We have 2 molecules of [tex]\( NH_3 \)[/tex], so we need [tex]\( 2 \times 3 = 6 \)[/tex] hydrogen atoms.
Thus, we require 3 molecules of [tex]\( H_2 \)[/tex] to get 6 hydrogen atoms:
[tex]\[
3H_2 + N_2 \rightarrow 2NH_3
\][/tex]
5. Verify the balanced equation:
- Reactants: 3 molecules of [tex]\( H_2 \)[/tex] give 6 hydrogen atoms, and 1 molecule of [tex]\( N_2 \)[/tex] gives 2 nitrogen atoms.
- Products: 2 molecules of [tex]\( NH_3 \)[/tex] give 6 hydrogen atoms (3 hydrogen atoms per molecule) and 2 nitrogen atoms (1 nitrogen atom per molecule).
Both sides have 6 hydrogen atoms and 2 nitrogen atoms, confirming that the equation is correctly balanced.
Thus, the correct balanced chemical equation for the formation of ammonia is:
[tex]\[
3H_2 + N_2 \rightarrow 2NH_3
\][/tex]
Therefore, the correct option is:
D. [tex]\( 3H_2 + N_2 \rightarrow 2NH_3 \)[/tex]
