For the reaction
C2H6+O2>CO2+H2O
what are the coefficient to the chemical substance it goes with for balanced reactions?
To balance a chemical equation, you need to make sure that the number of each type of atom is the same on both sides of the equation.
In the given reaction: C2H6 + O2 -> CO2 + H2O
Start by counting the number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation.
On the left side of the equation:
- Carbon (C): 2 atoms
- Hydrogen (H): 6 atoms
- Oxygen (O): 2 atoms
On the right side of the equation:
- Carbon (C): 1 atom
- Hydrogen (H): 2 atoms
- Oxygen (O): 3 atoms
To balance the equation, adjust the coefficients in front of each chemical species until the number of atoms is the same on both sides.
- For carbon (C), there are already 2 atoms on the left side, so no coefficient is needed.
- For hydrogen (H), there are 6 atoms on the left side and 2 atoms on the right side. To balance it, place a coefficient of 3 in front of H2O, giving us 3H2O.
- For oxygen (O), there are 2 atoms on the left side and 3 atoms on the right side. To balance it, place a coefficient of 3/2 (or 1.5) in front of O2, giving us 3/2O2. However, it is not common practice to have fractional coefficients in a balanced chemical equation. So, to eliminate the fractional coefficient, multiply every coefficient in the equation by 2, resulting in 2C2H6 + 7O2 -> 4CO2 + 6H2O.
Therefore, the balanced equation with coefficient numbers is:
2C2H6 + 7O2 -> 4CO2 + 6H2O