B. Write a balanced chemical equation for the formation of the copper oxide product

from copper metal and oxygen gas.

2Cu + O₂ = > 2CuO

Explanation:

I am assuming Copper II, the most common form as listed in order of commonality on the periodic table.

Write a skeleton equation

Cu + O₂ = > CuO

Because oxygen is a diatomic atom, it must have 2 atoms when it is alone.

Balanced

2Cu + O₂ = > 2CuO

The only way to increase the number of oxygen atoms in the right side is by doubling all of CuO.

As a result, I need 2 copper atoms on the left side also.

By doubling that, the equation is balanced.

Both sides have 2 copper and 2 oxygen atoms.