Question

What is the balanced equation for the combustion of ethanol?

Answer 1

`H_3C-CH_2OH(l) + 7/2O_2(g) rarr 2CO_2(g) + 3H_2O(l)`

Explanation:

Is the equation above balanced? How do you know? Can I have half a molecule of oxygen? Note that the equation is not only balanced stoichiometrically, it is balanced energetically, in that the combustion of a given quantity of ethanol will give rise to a given quantity of energy.