Balancing Equations Chemistry Example 2

Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.

Example 2

medium
Balance: C3H8+O2→CO2+H2O\text{C}_3\text{H}_8 + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O}.

Solution

  1. 1
    Count atoms in C3H8\text{C}_3\text{H}_8: 3 C, 8 H. Balance C: place 3 before CO2\text{CO}_2.
  2. 2
    Balance H: 8 H on left, place 4 before H2O\text{H}_2\text{O} (gives 8 H).
  3. 3
    Count O on right: 3(2)+4(1)=103(2) + 4(1) = 10 O atoms. Place 5 before O2\text{O}_2: 5(2)=105(2) = 10 O. ✓
  4. 4
    Final: C3H8+5O2→3CO2+4H2O\text{C}_3\text{H}_8 + 5\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 3\text{CO}_2 + 4\text{H}_2\text{O}.

Answer

C3H8+5O2→3CO2+4H2O\text{C}_3\text{H}_8 + 5\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 3\text{CO}_2 + 4\text{H}_2\text{O}
For combustion reactions, it is often easiest to balance C first, then H, and finally O (since O2\text{O}_2 only has oxygen, adjusting its coefficient does not disturb the other elements).

About Balancing Equations

The process of adjusting the coefficients (the numbers placed before chemical formulas) in a chemical equation so that the number of atoms of each element.

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More Balancing Equations Examples

Example 1 easy

Balance the equation: [formula].

Example 3 medium

Balance: [formula].

Example 4 medium

Balance the equation for the formation of ammonia: [formula].

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