Balance the chemical formula: CH4+O2=CO2+H2O?

1 Answer
anor277
Jun 25, 2018

underbrace(CH_4(g) + 2O_2(g))_"48 g" rarr underbrace(CO_2(g) + 2H_2O(l) + Delta)_"48 g"

Explanation:

The prescribed rigmarole is to balance the carbons as carbon dioxide, then the hydrogens as water, and THEN balance the oxygens.... Even numbered alkanes require a half-integral dioxygen coefficient, or the DOUBLING of the entire equation...

underbrace(H_3C-CH_3(g) + 7/2O_2(g))_"142 g" rarr underbrace(2CO_2(g) + 3H_2O(l) + Delta)_"142 g"

Try it out for propane, C_3H_8, and butane, C_4H_10..

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