1. The Chemical Formula:
* Methane's chemical formula is CH4, meaning each molecule has one carbon atom (C) and four hydrogen atoms (H).
2. Doubling the Formula:
* To make two molecules of methane, we need to double the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms:
* Carbon: 1 atom/molecule * 2 molecules = 2 carbon atoms
* Hydrogen: 4 atoms/molecule * 2 molecules = 8 hydrogen atoms
3. Converting to Molecules:
* Remember that hydrogen exists as a diatomic molecule (H2), meaning two hydrogen atoms are bonded together.
* To get the number of hydrogen molecules, divide the total number of hydrogen atoms by 2:
* 8 hydrogen atoms / 2 atoms/molecule = 4 hydrogen molecules
Answer:
* You need 2 carbon atoms and 4 hydrogen molecules to make two molecules of methane.