In a ventilated hood in a lab, a student heats barium metal over a flame, and it begins to react with oxygen gas in the air. a white crystalline compound begins to form on the burning barium.

2 ba (s) + o2 (g) --> 2 bao (s) = energy

which statement best describes the reactants and products?

a. equal numbers of barium atoms are in the reactants as in the products.

b. fewer overall atoms are in the products than in the reactants.

c. twice as many oxygen atoms are in the reactants as in the products.

d. more atoms are in the products than in the reactants.

The statement best describes the reactants and products is :

A. Equal numbers of barium atoms are in the reactants as in the products.

Explanation:

The balanced equation is:

The law of conservation of Mass = It states that mass can neither be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Total mass of the reactant must be equal to total mass of the reactants.

Or

Number of atoms of element in the reactant = number of elements in the product.

Every equation in the universe must follow the law of conservation of Mass.

Now , consider the reaction

Reactants , here are : Ba and O2

Number of Ba = 2

O = 2

Products = 2 BaO

Ba = 2x 1 = 2

O = 2 x1 = 2

Total number of Ba in both product and reactant = 2

Total number of O in both product and reactant = 2

So, Option A is correct.

Equal numbers of barium atoms are in the reactants as in the products.