# What is the chemical equation for butane burning completely in air?

Aug 4, 2017

Butane is completely combusted to carbon dioxide and water........

#### Explanation:

${C}_{4} {H}_{10} \left(g\right) + \frac{13}{2} {O}_{2} \left(g\right) \rightarrow 4 C {O}_{2} \left(g\right) + 5 {H}_{2} O \left(l\right) + \Delta$

If you like, you can double the equation to remove the half-integral coefficient. What does the $\Delta$ symbol on the reactant side represent?

Aug 4, 2017

$\text{C"_4"H"_10(g) + 13/2"O"_2(g) rarr 4"CO"_2(g) + 5"H"_2"O} \left(g\right)$

#### Explanation:

Butane (${\text{C"_4"H}}_{10}$) is undergoing complete combustion here, so we can write our generic hydrocarbon combustion equation:

ul("hydrocarbon" + "oxygen" rarr "carbon dioxide" + "water (vapor)" (complete combustion)

Now we fill in the reagents and balance the equation:

$\text{C"_4"H"_10(g) + "O"_2(g) rarr "CO"_2(g) + "H"_2"O} \left(g\right)$ (unbalanced)

color(red)(ulbar(|stackrel(" ")(" ""C"_4"H"_10(g) + 13/2"O"_2(g) rarr 4"CO"_2(g) + 5"H"_2"O"(g)" ")|)