What is the balanced equation for the combustion of benzene (C6H6)?

1 Answer
Dec 1, 2015

The products of complete combustion are carbon dioxide and water, as is the case for all organic molecules.

Explanation:

#C_6H_6(l) + 15/2O_2(g) rarr 6CO_2(g) + 3H_2O(g)#

Is mass balanced? Is charge balanced?

Benzene often burns with a sooty flame, meaning that incomplete combustion has occurred (i.e. #C#, and #CO# are combustion products). If, say, 1 equiv each of #C# and #CO#, were produced, how would you represent such a combustion?