How would you write a balanced equation for the combustion of octane, C8H18 with oxygen to obtain carbon dioxide and water?

1 Answer
Nov 10, 2015

#2C_8H_18 + 25O_2 -> 16CO_2 + 18H_2O#

Explanation:

You just have to check the number of atoms of each element is the same in both sides.
You can do it by steps starting with the unbalanced equation

#C_8H_18 + O_2 -> CO_2 + H_2O#

By making a list of the elements and the number of atoms on each side of the equation

# 8-C-1#
#18-H-2#
#2-O-3#

Then as you can see, the molecule with 1 carbon (#CO_2#) you have to multiply by eight, the molecule with 2 hydrogens (#H_2O#) you have to multiply it by 9 to be equal to the left. And when you find that you have to multiply by a fraction then you can multiply the whole equation by an integer so you have only integers.