Check hat (O)CH_(4)+hat (O)H_(2)OLongrightarrow hat (O)H_(2)+hat (O)CO

The given chemical equation is:<br /><br />\[ \hat{O}CH_{4} + \hat{O}H_{2}O \Longrightarrow \hat{O}H_{2} + \hat{O}CO \]<br /><br />To check if this equation is balanced, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.<br /><br />Let's break it down:<br /><br />1. **Reactants:**<br /> - \( \hat{O}CH_{4} \) (Methane): 1 carbon (C), 4 hydrogen (H)<br /> - \( \hat{O}H_{2}O \) (Water): 2 hydrogen (H), 1 oxygen (O)<br /><br /> Total: 1 C, 6 H, 2 O<br /><br />2. **Products:**<br /> - \( \hat{O}H_{2} \) (Hydrogen gas): 2 hydrogen (H)<br /> - \( \hat{O}CO \) (Formaldehyde): 1 carbon (C), 1 oxygen (O)<br /><br /> Total: 1 C, 2 H, 1 O<br /><br />Now, let's compare the totals:<br /><br />- **Carbon (C):** 1 atom on both sides<br />- **Hydrogen (H):** 6 atoms on the reactant side, 2 atoms on the product side<br />- **Oxygen (O):** 2 atoms on the reactant side, 1 atom on the product side<br /><br />The equation is not balanced because the number of hydrogen and oxygen atoms are not the same on both sides. To balance the equation, we need to adjust the coefficients.<br /><br />The balanced equation should be:<br /><br />\[ \hat{O}CH_{4} + 2\hat{O}H_{2}O \Longrightarrow 4\hat{O}H_{2} + \hat{O}CO \]<br /><br />Now, let's verify:<br /><br />1. **Reactants:**<br /> - \( \hat{O}CH_{4} \): 1 C, 4 H<br /> - \( 2\hat{O}H_{2}O \): 4 H, 2 O<br /><br /> Total: 1 C, 8 H, 2 O<br /><br />2. **Products:**<br /> - \( 4\hat{O}H_{2} \): 8 H<br /> - \( \hat{O}CO \): 1 C, 1 O<br /><br /> Total: 1 C, 8 H, 1 O<br /><br />Now, the equation is balanced:<br /><br />- **Carbon (C):** 1 atom on both sides<br />- **Hydrogen (H):** 8 atoms on both sides<br />- **Oxygen (O):** 2 atoms on both sides<br /><br />So, the balanced equation is:<br /><br />\[ \hat{O}CH_{4} + 2\hat{O}H_{2}O \Longrightarrow 4\hat{O}H_{2} + \hat{O}CO \]