How would you balance the equation for the combustion of octane: C8H18(l)+O2(g)---->CO2(g)+H2O(l)?
2 Answers
The complete combustion of any hydrocarbon gives carbon dioxide and water. I will represent the combustion of hexane.
Explanation:
Is this equation balanced? How do you know? How is the complete combustion of octane,
or
Explanation:
First, you need to tally all the atoms.
Based on the subscripts, you have
left side:
C = 8
H = 18
O = 2
right side:
C = 1
H = 2
O = 2 + 1 (do not add this up yet)
Second, find the easiest atom to balance. In this case, the
left side:
C = 8
H = 18
O = 2
right side:
C = (1 x
H = 2
O = (2 x
Since
Third, balance the next easiest atom.
left side:
C = 8
H = 18
O = 2
right side:
C = (1 x 8) = 8
H = (2 x
O = (2 x 8) + (1 x
Now all that is left is to balance are the
Thus,
left side:
C = 8
H = 18
O = (2 x
right side:
C = (1 x 8) = 8
H = (2 x 9) = 18
O = (2 x 8) + (1 x 9) = 25
But if you don't want fractions as coefficients, you can always multiply the WHOLE equation by 2.
=
Both answers are considered correct.