Questions: Balance the chemical equation below using the smallest possible whole number stoichiometric CH3(CH2)5CH3(l) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(g)

Solution Steps

The given chemical equation is: \[ \mathrm{CH}_{3}\left(\mathrm{CH}_{2}\right)_{5} \mathrm{CH}_{3}(l) + \mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \rightarrow \mathrm{CO}_{2}(g) + \mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}(g) \]

Count the number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation:

• Reactants:
  • Carbon (C): 7
  • Hydrogen (H): 16
  • Oxygen (O): 2
• Products:
  • Carbon (C): 1 (in \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\))
  • Hydrogen (H): 2 (in \(\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}\))
  • Oxygen (O): 3 (1 in \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) and 1 in \(\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}\))

To balance the carbon atoms, we need 7 \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) molecules on the product side: \[ \mathrm{CH}_{3}\left(\mathrm{CH}_{2}\right)_{5} \mathrm{CH}_{3}(l) + \mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \rightarrow 7\mathrm{CO}_{2}(g) + \mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}(g) \]

To balance the hydrogen atoms, we need 8 \(\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}\) molecules on the product side: \[ \mathrm{CH}_{3}\left(\mathrm{CH}_{2}\right)_{5} \mathrm{CH}_{3}(l) + \mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \rightarrow 7\mathrm{CO}_{2}(g) + 8\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}(g) \]

Now, count the oxygen atoms on the product side:

• Oxygen in \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\): \(7 \times 2 = 14\)
• Oxygen in \(\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}\): \(8 \times 1 = 8\)
• Total oxygen atoms needed: \(14 + 8 = 22\)

To balance the oxygen atoms, we need 11 \(\mathrm{O}_{2}\) molecules on the reactant side: \[ \mathrm{CH}_{3}\left(\mathrm{CH}_{2}\right)_{5} \mathrm{CH}_{3}(l) + 11\mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \rightarrow 7\mathrm{CO}_{2}(g) + 8\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}(g) \]

Final Answer