The following chemical equation, the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water, is not balanced. What must be done to the equation to make it balanced? 2 H₂O₂(l) → 2 H₂O (l)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The equation needs an additional oxygen atom on the product side to balance the equation. Therefore, adding a molecule of O2 will not balance the equation. Changing the coefficients or the state of matter will not affect the number of atoms of each element. And changing the subscripts would change the identity of the compounds, which is not necessary for balancing. Therefore, adding a molecule of O2 to the products is the best choice.

The Following Chemical Equation, the Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide to Water