Water gas (which is is a mixture of h2 and co) can be made by reacting red hot charcoal (c) with steam (h2o). a. write the balanced equation for this reaction. b. show, how can the obtained water gas itself be used as a fuel (write the balanced reactions of complete combustion of h2 and co).

To balance chemical equations you add coefficients in front of each molecule in such a way that the number of atoms in reactants are equal with the number of the atoms in products.

a) C + H₂O → CO + H₂

the chemical equation is balanced, no need for other coefficients (it is assumed 1 in front of each molecule as a coefficient)

b) Combustion it means that the hydrogen and carbon monoxide will react with oxygen.

2 H₂ + O₂ → 2 H₂O

2 CO + O₂ → 2 CO₂