If one molecule of glucose (C6H12O6) reacts completely with three molecules of oxygen (O2), what is the TOTAL number of atoms that will be in the products?

1 Answer
anor277
May 4, 2018

As specified clearly there will be 12 oxygen atoms in the products...but let us see...

Explanation:

Complete oxidation would be give...

#C_6H_12O_6+6O_2 rarr 6CO_2 +6H_2O#

....but you specify ONLY three moles of dioxygen...we could invoke incomplete oxidation to say #CO#....

#C_6H_12O_6+3O_2 rarr 6CO +6H_2O#

...OR we could specify oxidation to CARBON and carbon dioxide...

#C_6H_12O_6+3O_2 rarr 3C+3CO_2 +6H_2O#

Is this what you want?

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