Questions: C4H8O + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Transcript text: $\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{8} \mathrm{O}$ $+$ $\mathrm{O}_{2}$ $\rightarrow$ $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ $+$ $\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Identify the Chemical Equation

We are given the unbalanced chemical equation: \[ \mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{8} \mathrm{O} + \mathrm{O}_{2} \rightarrow \mathrm{CO}_{2} + \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} \]

Step 2: Balance the Carbon Atoms

First, balance the carbon atoms. There are 4 carbon atoms in $\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{8} \mathrm{O}$, so we need 4 $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ molecules: \[ \mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{8} \mathrm{O} + \mathrm{O}_{2} \rightarrow 4 \mathrm{CO}_{2} + \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} \]

Step 3: Balance the Hydrogen Atoms

Next, balance the hydrogen atoms. There are 8 hydrogen atoms in $\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{8} \mathrm{O}$, so we need 4 $\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$ molecules: \[ \mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{8} \mathrm{O} + \mathrm{O}_{2} \rightarrow 4 \mathrm{CO}_{2} + 4 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} \]

Step 4: Balance the Oxygen Atoms

Finally, balance the oxygen atoms. On the right side, we have:

4 $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ molecules contributing $4 \times 2 = 8$ oxygen atoms.
4 $\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$ molecules contributing $4 \times 1 = 4$ oxygen atoms. This gives a total of $8 + 4 = 12$ oxygen atoms on the right side.

On the left side, we have:

1 oxygen atom from $\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{8} \mathrm{O}$.
We need $12 - 1 = 11$ more oxygen atoms from $\mathrm{O}_{2}$, which means we need $\frac{11}{2} = 5.5$ $\mathrm{O}_{2}$ molecules.

To avoid fractions, we multiply the entire equation by 2: \[ 2 \mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{8} \mathrm{O} + 11 \mathrm{O}_{2} \rightarrow 8 \mathrm{CO}_{2} + 8 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} \]