Question

When the following equation is balanced in standard form, what is the coefficient in front of CO2(g)? C2H6(g) + O2(g) ® CO2(g) + H2O(l) A)1 B)2 C)3 D)4 E)5

Answer 1

The balanced equation is:

`C_2H_(6(g))+3(1)/(2)O_(2(g))rarr2CO_(2(g))+3H_2O_((l))`

In this case the coefficient is 2.

I could double everything then it would be 4.

I guess that is what you mean by "standard form"?

Answer 2

The balanced chemical equation for the combustion of ethane, or `C_2H_6`, looks like this

`2C_2H_(6(g)) + 7O_(2(g)) -> 4CO_(2(g)) + 6H_2O_((l))`

This means that the coefficient in front of `CO_2` will be 4 - option D.

SIDE NOTE You'll sometimes see this written with fractional coefficients, but the standard form equation has coefficients that are integers for all species involved.

`C_2H_6 + 3.5O_2 -> 2CO_2 + 3H_2O` `->` don't use this version when asked for standard form.