Understanding the Combustion of Ethane

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 17 views

Understanding the Combustion of Ethane

The combustion of ethane is a chemical reaction that involves the reaction of ethane (C2H6) with oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). This reaction is an important process in various industrial and environmental applications. In this article, we will focus on balancing the chemical equation for the combustion of ethane.

The Unbalanced Equation

The unbalanced equation for the combustion of ethane is:

C2H6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Step 1: Write the Unbalanced Equation

The first step in balancing a chemical equation is to write the unbalanced equation. In this case, the unbalanced equation is:

C2H6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Step 2: Count the Atoms

The next step is to count the number of atoms of each element on both the reactant and product sides of the equation. This will help us identify which elements are imbalanced.

Reactant Side:

C: 2
H: 6
O: 2

Product Side:

C: 1
H: 2
O: 3

Step 3: Balance the Carbon Atoms

The first element to balance is carbon (C). We can see that there are 2 carbon atoms on the reactant side, but only 1 carbon atom on the product side. To balance the carbon atoms, we need to multiply the CO2 molecule by 2.

C2H6 + O2 → 2CO2 + H2O

Step 4: Balance the Hydrogen Atoms

Next, we need to balance the hydrogen atoms. There are 6 hydrogen atoms on the reactant side, but only 2 hydrogen atoms on the product side. To balance the hydrogen atoms, we need to multiply the H2O molecule by 3.

C2H6 + O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O

Step 5: Balance the Oxygen Atoms

Finally, we need to balance the oxygen atoms. There are 2 oxygen atoms on the reactant side, but a total of 7 oxygen atoms on the product side (2 oxygen atoms in 2CO2 and 5 oxygen atoms in 3H2O). To balance the oxygen atoms, we need to multiply the O2 molecule by 3.5.

C2H6 + 3.5O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O

However, we cannot have a fraction of a molecule in a balanced equation. To fix this, we can multiply the entire equation by 2 to eliminate the fraction.

2C2H6 + 7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O

The Balanced Equation

The balanced equation for the combustion of ethane is:

2C2H6 + 7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O

Conclusion

Balancing chemical equations is an important process in chemistry that helps us understand the stoichiometry of chemical reactions. By following the steps outlined in this article, we can balance the chemical equation for the combustion of ethane. The balanced equation shows that 2 molecules of ethane react with 7 molecules of oxygen to produce 4 molecules of carbon dioxide and 6 molecules of water.

Key Takeaways

The combustion of ethane is a chemical reaction that involves the reaction of ethane with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water.
The unbalanced equation for the combustion of ethane is C2H6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O.
To balance the equation, we need to count the atoms of each element on both the reactant and product sides.
We can balance the carbon atoms by multiplying the CO2 molecule by 2.
We can balance the hydrogen atoms by multiplying the H2O molecule by 3.
We can balance the oxygen atoms by multiplying the O2 molecule by 3.5, and then multiplying the entire equation by 2 to eliminate the fraction.
The balanced equation for the combustion of ethane is 2C2H6 + 7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O.
Balancing Chemical Equations: A Q&A Guide =====================================================

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is balancing a chemical equation?

A: Balancing a chemical equation is the process of adjusting the coefficients of the reactants and products to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Q: Why is balancing a chemical equation important?

A: Balancing a chemical equation is important because it helps us understand the stoichiometry of chemical reactions, which is the quantitative relationship between the reactants and products. This is crucial in predicting the amount of product that will be formed from a given amount of reactant.

Q: How do I balance a chemical equation?

A: To balance a chemical equation, follow these steps:

Write the unbalanced equation.
Count the number of atoms of each element on both the reactant and product sides.
Balance the atoms of each element by adjusting the coefficients of the reactants and products.
Check that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Q: What are the common mistakes to avoid when balancing a chemical equation?

A: The common mistakes to avoid when balancing a chemical equation are:

Not counting the atoms of each element on both the reactant and product sides.
Not balancing the atoms of each element separately.
Not checking that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.
Not using the correct coefficients to balance the equation.

Q: How do I know if a chemical equation is balanced?

A: A chemical equation is balanced if the number of atoms of each element is the same on both the reactant and product sides. You can check this by counting the atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.

Q: What is the difference between a balanced and unbalanced chemical equation?

A: A balanced chemical equation has the same number of atoms of each element on both the reactant and product sides, while an unbalanced chemical equation has a different number of atoms of each element on both sides.

Q: Can a chemical equation be balanced in more than one way?

A: Yes, a chemical equation can be balanced in more than one way. However, the correct balanced equation is the one that has the same number of atoms of each element on both the reactant and product sides.

Q: How do I determine the correct balanced equation?

A: To determine the correct balanced equation, follow these steps:

Write the unbalanced equation.
Count the number of atoms of each element on both the reactant and product sides.
Balance the atoms of each element by adjusting the coefficients of the reactants and products.
Check that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.
Use the correct coefficients to balance the equation.

Q: What are the applications of balancing chemical equations?

A: The applications of balancing chemical equations include:

Predicting the amount of product that will be formed from a given amount of reactant.
Understanding the stoichiometry of chemical reactions.
Designing chemical reactions for industrial processes.
Understanding the chemical properties of substances.