How do I balance this equation and what is the answer?
C3H9N+O2-->CO2+H2O+NO2
4C3H9N + 25O2 --> 12CO2 + 18H2O + 4NO2
To balance the equation C3H9N + O2 → CO2 + H2O + NO2, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is equal on both sides of the equation.
Let's go step by step to balance the equation:
1. Start with the carbon (C) atoms. Initially, there are three carbon atoms on the left side and only one on the right side. To equalize this, place a coefficient of 3 in front of CO2, making it 3CO2.
C3H9N + O2 → 3CO2 + H2O + NO2
2. Next, move on to hydrogen (H) atoms. There are nine hydrogen atoms on the left side, and currently, there are only two hydrogen atoms on the right side. To balance this, place a coefficient of 4 in front of H2O, making it 4H2O.
C3H9N + O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O + NO2
3. Now, consider the nitrogen (N) atoms. There is one nitrogen atom on the left side, and one on the right side, so nitrogen is already balanced.
C3H9N + O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O + NO2
4. Finally, look at the oxygen (O) atoms. On the left side, there are two oxygen atoms in C3H9N and two in O2, totaling four. On the right side, there are three oxygen atoms in CO2 and eight in 4H2O and NO2, totaling eleven. To balance the oxygen, place a coefficient of 11/2 (5.5) in front of O2.
C3H9N + 5.5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O + NO2
Since we can't have fractional coefficients in balanced equations, we need to multiply the entire equation by 2 to eliminate the decimal:
2C3H9N + 11O2 → 6CO2 + 8H2O + 2NO2
The balanced equation is:
2C3H9N + 11O2 → 6CO2 + 8H2O + 2NO2
So, the balanced equation is as written above.