Balancing Chemical Equations

The video tutorial explains how to balance the chemical equation for copper reacting with oxygen to form copper(II) oxide. It begins by identifying the imbalance in oxygen atoms and adjusts the coefficients to balance them. Then, it addresses the imbalance in copper atoms, again adjusting coefficients to achieve balance. The tutorial concludes with a balanced equation and a brief summary.

What is the initial number of copper atoms on the reactant side of the equation?

• One

• Two

• Three

• Four

How many oxygen atoms are present on the product side before balancing?

• Two

• Four

• Three

• One

What change is made to balance the oxygen atoms in the equation?

• Add a coefficient of 2 in front of CuO

• Add a coefficient of 3 in front of CuO

• Add a coefficient of 2 in front of O2

• Add a coefficient of 3 in front of O2

What is the effect of adding a coefficient of 2 in front of CuO?

• It increases the number of reactants

• It decreases the number of products

• It balances the oxygen atoms

• It balances the copper atoms

How is the imbalance of copper atoms corrected after balancing the oxygen atoms?

• By adding a coefficient of 2 in front of Cu

• By adding a coefficient of 3 in front of Cu

• By adding a coefficient of 3 in front of O2

• By adding a coefficient of 2 in front of O2

What is the final balanced equation for the reaction?

• 2Cu + 2O2 → 2CuO

• Cu + 2O2 → CuO2

• 2Cu + O2 → 2CuO

• Cu + O2 → CuO