Answer:
A tin atom and 2 molecules containing two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom.
Explanation:
Equation of reaction:
SnO2 + 2H2 ---> Sn + 2H2O
According to Dalton's postulates:
1. All elements are made up of small indivisible particles called atoms
2. The atom cannot be created nor destroyed
3. The atoms of the same element are alike in every aspect and differ from atoms of all other elements
4. During a chemical reaction there is a combination of atoms in small whole numbers.
From the given options, the one that satisfies the postulates of Dalton is:
"A tin atom and 2 molecules containing two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom"
This is because it gives a balanced chemical equation for the number of atoms reacting for each element is equal to the number of atoms of each element produced. This is in accordance with the postulate that atoms are neither created nor destroyed.
The three other postulates are also obeyed. The small whole number ratio for the reactants and products in the chemical reaction is 1 : 2 : 2.
