Question

How do you write a balanced chemical equation depicting the formation of one mole of `C_2H_5OH(l)` from its elements in their standard states?

Answer 1

`2C(s) + 3H_2(g) + 1/2O_2(g) rarr C_2H_5OH(l)`

Explanation:

Well, does this depict the formation of one mole of ethyl alcohol from its constituent elements in their standard states under standard conditions.........?

Now of course, we could not perform this reaction on a laboratory bench-top. There are easier ways to make ethyl alcohol (which are?). Nevertheless, there exist enuff data to allow us to estimate the thermodynamic change when this reaction is (conceptually!) performed.