Write the chemical formula for cornstarch + heat = Dextrin + water.
I know that the formula for cornstarch is C27H48O20
The formula for Dextrin is C6H10O5.
I also have to balance the equation
To balance the equation for the reaction between cornstarch and heat to form dextrin and water, follow these steps:
Step 1: Write the chemical equation:
Cornstarch + Heat → Dextrin + Water
Step 2: Determine the chemical formula of each compound involved in the reaction:
Cornstarch: C27H48O20
Dextrin: C6H10O5
Water: H2O
Step 3: Balance the carbon (C) atoms:
Since cornstarch has 27 carbon atoms and dextrin has 6 carbon atoms, you need to balance the carbon atoms in the equation. To do this, add a coefficient of 4 in front of dextrin:
4C27H48O20 + Heat → 4C6H10O5 + Water
Step 4: Balance the hydrogen (H) atoms:
Cornstarch has 48 hydrogen atoms, and dextrin has 10 hydrogen atoms. To balance the hydrogen atoms, add a coefficient of 12 in front of water:
4C27H48O20 + Heat → 4C6H10O5 + 12H2O
Step 5: Balance the oxygen (O) atoms:
Cornstarch has 20 oxygen atoms, and dextrin has 5 oxygen atoms. Water contains 2 oxygen atoms per molecule. To balance the oxygen atoms, calculate the total number of oxygen atoms on both sides of the equation:
Cornstarch: 20 * 4 = 80
Dextrin: 5 * 4 = 20
Water: 12 * 2 = 24
Since the oxygen atoms on the reactant side (80) are greater than the oxygen atoms on the product side (20 + 24 = 44), you need to balance them by adding water molecules. In this case, add 4 in front of water:
4C27H48O20 + Heat → 4C6H10O5 + 12H2O
Thus, the balanced equation for the reaction between cornstarch and heat to form dextrin and water is:
4C27H48O20 + Heat → 4C6H10O5 + 12H2O
The chemical reaction of cornstarch (C27H48O20) heated to form Dextrin (C6H10O5) and water can be represented by the balanced equation:
6(C27H48O20) + heat → 10(C6H10O5) + 76H2O