Question

The balanced chemical equation for the combustion of butane (C4H10) is:

Answer 1

Answer:

2C4H10 + 13O2 —> 8CO2 + 10H20

Explanation:

When butane undergo Combustion, CO2 and H20 are produced as shown below:

C4H10 + O2 —> CO2 + H20

A clear observation of the above equation proved it is unbalanced. Now let us balance the equation. This is illustrated below:

C4H10 + O2 —> CO2 + H20

There 4 atoms of C on the left side of the equation and 1atom on the right side. It can be balance by putting 4 in front of CO2 as shown below:

C4H10 + O2 —> 4CO2 + H20

There are 10 atoms of H on the left side and 2 atoms on the right side. It can be balance by putting 5 in front of H2O as shown below:

C4H10 + O2 —> 4CO2 + 5H20

Now, there are a total of 13 atoms of O on the right side and 2 atoms on the left. It can be balance by putting 13/2 in front of O2 as shown below:

C4H10 + 13/2O2 —> 4CO2 + 5H20

Now multiply through by 2 to clear the fraction

2C4H10 + 13O2 —> 8CO2 + 10H20

Now the equation is balanced.