To justify the conservation of mass during the process of photosynthesis, we need to ensure that there are equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the chemical equation. We will go step-by-step to count the atoms on both the reactant side (left) and the product side (right) of the balanced equation:
[tex]\[
6 \, \text{CO}_2 + 6 \, \text{H}_2 \text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}_6 \text{H}_{12} \text{O}_6 + 6 \, \text{O}_2
\][/tex]
### Step 1: Count the carbon atoms
Reactant side (left):
- There are 6 molecules of [tex]\(\text{CO}_2\)[/tex].
- Each [tex]\(\text{CO}_2\)[/tex] molecule has 1 carbon atom.
- Total carbon atoms: [tex]\(6 \times 1 = 6\)[/tex].
Product side (right):
- There is 1 molecule of [tex]\(\text{C}_6 \text{H}_{12} \text{O}_6\)[/tex].
- This molecule contains 6 carbon atoms.
- Total carbon atoms: [tex]\(6\)[/tex].
Conclusion for carbon atoms: The number of carbon atoms on both sides is equal (6).
### Step 2: Count the hydrogen atoms
Reactant side (left):
- There are 6 molecules of [tex]\(\text{H}_2 \text{O}\)[/tex].
- Each [tex]\(\text{H}_2 \text{O}\)[/tex] molecule has 2 hydrogen atoms.
- Total hydrogen atoms: [tex]\(6 \times 2 = 12\)[/tex].
Product side (right):
- There is 1 molecule of [tex]\(\text{C}_6 \text{H}_{12} \text{O}_6\)[/tex].
- This molecule contains 12 hydrogen atoms.
- Total hydrogen atoms: [tex]\(12\)[/tex].
Conclusion for hydrogen atoms: The number of hydrogen atoms on both sides is equal (12).
### Step 3: Count the oxygen atoms
Reactant side (left):
- There are 6 molecules of [tex]\(\text{CO}_2\)[/tex].
- Each [tex]\(\text{CO}_2\)[/tex] molecule has 2 oxygen atoms.
- Oxygen atoms from [tex]\(\text{CO}_2\)[/tex]: [tex]\(6 \times 2 = 12\)[/tex].
- There are 6 molecules of [tex]\(\text{H}_2 \text{O}\)[/tex].
- Each [tex]\(\text{H}_2 \text{O}\)[/tex] molecule has 1 oxygen atom.
- Oxygen atoms from [tex]\(\text{H}_2 \text{O}\)[/tex]: [tex]\(6 \times 1 = 6\)[/tex].
- Total oxygen atoms: [tex]\(12 + 6 = 18\)[/tex].
Product side (right):
- There is 1 molecule of [tex]\(\text{C}_6 \text{H}_{12} \text{O}_6\)[/tex].
- This molecule contains 6 oxygen atoms.
- There are 6 molecules of [tex]\(\text{O}_2\)[/tex].
- Each [tex]\(\text{O}_2\)[/tex] molecule has 2 oxygen atoms.
- Oxygen atoms from [tex]\(\text{O}_2\)[/tex]: [tex]\(6 \times 2 = 12\)[/tex].
- Total oxygen atoms: [tex]\(6 + 12 = 18\)[/tex].
Conclusion for oxygen atoms: The number of oxygen atoms on both sides is equal (18).
### Conclusion:
To justify the conservation of mass in the process of photosynthesis with the balanced equation provided, we can state the following:
The total number of hydrogen atoms on both sides is 12.
Among the statements given, the correct one is:
- The total number of hydrogen atoms on both sides is 12.
This statement best justifies the conservation of mass during photosynthesis.
