Chapter 19, Problem 49R

To determine

To explain: The balanced reaction which involves the burning of propane in oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water.

Answer to Problem 49R

The balanced chemical equation for the reaction of propane burning in the oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water is

  ${\text{C}}_{\text{3}}{\text{H}}_{\text{8}}\left(\text{g}\right){\text{+5O}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{g}\right)\to {\text{3CO}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{g}\right)\text{+}{\text{4H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\left(\text{g}\right)$

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

A chemical reaction is said to be balanced if the number of molecules of each reactant on the reaction left side becomes equal to the number of atoms or molecules of each product on the right side of the reaction.

When propane burns in the presence of oxygen then it forms the carbon dioxide and water as shown in the reaction that given below,

  ${\text{C}}_{\text{3}}{\text{H}}_{\text{8}}\left(\text{g}\right){\text{+O}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{g}\right)\to {\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{g}\right)\text{+}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\left(\text{g}\right)$

So, to balance each atom or molecule on both side of the arrow, oxygen molecule is multiplied by the 5 on left side and carbon dioxide molecule is multiply by 3 and water molecule is multiplied by 4. Hence, the number of carbons, oxygen and hydrogen atoms are balanced in this reaction that given as, ${\text{C}}_{\text{3}}{\text{H}}_{\text{8}}\left(\text{g}\right){\text{+5O}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{g}\right)\to {\text{3CO}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{g}\right)\text{+}{\text{4H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\left(\text{g}\right)$

Conclusion:

Thus, the reaction of burning of propane in oxygen is balanced now.