Question

`C_6H_12O_6 + H_2O + en ergy -> CO_2 + O_2`. How can you identify what is wrong with this equation?

Answer 1

Well, combustion of carbohydrates produces energy..........and also the equation is not stoichiometrically balanced.

Explanation:

The balanced chemical equation for complete combustion of glucose is:

`C_6H_12O_6(s) +6O_2(g) rarr 6CO_2(g) + 6H_2O(l)+Delta`

The oxidizing agent is of course `"dioxygen"`, which the given equation also does not include.

Note, is this balanced? For every reactant particle is there a corresponding product particle?

The `Delta` symbol represents the heat produced in the reaction; i.e. it is an exothermic reaction, in which the strong `C=O` and `O-H` bonds FORMED outweigh the `C-C`, `C-H`, etc. bonds broken.