Write a balance equation for the combustion of isoprene, C5H8, in an abundant supply of oxygen?
2 Answers
It helps if you leave the oxygen last when you balance it.
Michael's answer is perfectly correct. Here's how you get it.
The combustion of a hydrocarbon forms carbon dioxide and water.
So the unbalanced equation is
C₅H₈ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O
The procedure is called balancing by inspection.
Let's start with the most complicated formula, C₅H₈. We put a 1 in front of it.
We have fixed 5 C atoms on the left, so we need 5 C atoms on the right. We put a 5 in front of CO₂.
We have also fixed 8 H atoms in the C₅H₈, so we need 8 H atoms on the right. We put a 4 in front of the H₂O.
Now we have fixed 14 O atoms on the right, so we need 14 O atoms on the left. We put a 7 in front of the O₂.
The equation should now be balanced. Let's check.
On the left: 5 C; 8 H; 14 O
On the right: 5 C; 14 O; 8 H
It's balanced.
