Write a balanced equation for the combustion of gaseous ethane (C2H6) a minority component of natural gas, in which it combines with gaseous oxygen to form gaseous carbon dioxide and gaseous water.

2C2H6 + 7O2 --> 4CO2 + 6H2O

To balance the equation for the combustion of gaseous ethane (C2H6), we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

The balanced equation is:

C2H6(g) + 7/2 O2(g) -> 2 CO2(g) + 3 H2O(g)

To write a balanced equation for the combustion of ethane (C2H6), we need to make sure that the number of atoms of each element is equal on both sides of the equation. Here's how you can obtain the balanced equation:

1. Write the skeletal equation using the given reactants and products:
C2H6 + O2 -> CO2 + H2O

2. Count the number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation:
On the left side:
- Carbon (C): 2
- Hydrogen (H): 6
- Oxygen (O): 2 (from O2)

On the right side:
- Carbon (C): 1 (from CO2)
- Hydrogen (H): 2 (from H2O)
- Oxygen (O): 3 (from CO2 and H2O)

3. Balance the equation by adjusting the coefficients (numbers in front of the chemical formulas) to make the number of atoms equal on both sides:
C2H6 + 3.5 O2 -> 2 CO2 + 3 H2O

Note: To balance the equation, we have used decimal coefficients to adjust the number of oxygen atoms. However, because you cannot have a fraction of a molecule, multiply the entire equation by 2 to eliminate the 0.5 coefficient:
2C2H6 + 7 O2 -> 4 CO2 + 6 H2O

Therefore, the balanced equation for the combustion of ethane is:
2 C2H6 + 7 O2 -> 4 CO2 + 6 H2O

2C2H6 + 7O2-----> 6H2O + 4CO2