C2H6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is:
2 C2H6 + 7 O2 -> 4 CO2 + 6 H2O
This is the balanced equation for the combustion of ethane (C2H6):
C2H6 + 7/2 O2 → 2 CO2 + 3 H2O
To balance the equation, start by counting the number of carbon atoms on each side of the equation. There are two carbon atoms in ethane (C2H6) and two carbon atoms in carbon dioxide (CO2), so the carbon atoms are balanced.
Next, count the number of hydrogen atoms on each side. There are six hydrogen atoms in ethane (C2H6) and six hydrogen atoms in water (H2O), so the hydrogen atoms are balanced.
Finally, count the number of oxygen atoms on each side. There are two oxygen atoms in ethane (C2H6) and two oxygen atoms in carbon dioxide (CO2). However, there are seven oxygen atoms in the O2 molecule on the left side. To balance the oxygen atoms, multiply the CO2 and H2O coefficients by 2/7:
C2H6 + 7/2 O2 → 2 CO2 + 3 H2O
Now the equation is balanced with respect to both carbon and hydrogen atoms, as well as oxygen atoms.
The equation you provided is a chemical equation for the combustion of ethane (C2H6) with oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).
To balance this equation, we need to ensure that the same number of atoms of each element are present on both sides of the equation. Here's how to balance this equation step by step:
1. Start by counting the number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation.
On the reactant side:
- Carbon (C): 2 atoms
- Hydrogen (H): 6 atoms
- Oxygen (O): 2 atoms (from O2)
On the product side:
- Carbon (C): 1 atom (from CO2)
- Hydrogen (H): 2 atoms (from H2O)
- Oxygen (O): 3 atoms (from CO2 + H2O)
2. Balance the carbon atoms by adjusting the coefficient in front of CO2.
C2H6 + O2 → 2CO2 + H2O
Now we have:
- Carbon (C): 2 atoms on both sides
- Hydrogen (H): 6 atoms on the reactant side, 2 atoms on the product side
- Oxygen (O): 2 atoms on the reactant side, 6 atoms on the product side
3. Balance the hydrogen atoms by adjusting the coefficient in front of H2O.
C2H6 + O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O
Now we have:
- Carbon (C): 2 atoms on both sides
- Hydrogen (H): 6 atoms on the reactant side, 6 atoms on the product side
- Oxygen (O): 2 atoms on the reactant side, 2 atoms on the product side
4. Finally, balance the oxygen atoms by adjusting the coefficient in front of O2.
2C2H6 + 7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O
Now we have:
- Carbon (C): 4 atoms on both sides
- Hydrogen (H): 12 atoms on the reactant side, 12 atoms on the product side
- Oxygen (O): 14 atoms on the reactant side, 14 atoms on the product side
The balanced equation for the combustion of ethane is:
2C2H6 + 7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O