Write the complete balanced equation for the following reaction: c7h14 o2 yields co2 h2o
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To balance the combustion reaction of heptanol (C₇H₁₄O₂), the general formula for a combustion reaction is:
[
\text{Fuel} + O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2O
]
In this case, the fuel is heptanol (C₇H₁₄O₂). The complete balanced equation for the combustion of heptanol is:
[
\text{C}7\text{H}{14}\text{O}_2 + 11\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 7\text{CO}_2 + 7\text{H}_2\text{O}
]
Explanation:
- Step 1: Write the unbalanced equation.
The unbalanced combustion equation for heptanol is:
[
\text{C}7\text{H}{14}\text{O}_2 + O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2O
]
Heptanol (C₇H₁₄O₂) reacts with oxygen (O₂) to produce carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). - Step 2: Balance carbon atoms.
The carbon in heptanol (C₇) must balance with the carbon dioxide (CO₂). Therefore, you need 7 CO₂ molecules:
[
\text{C}7\text{H}{14}\text{O}_2 + O_2 \rightarrow 7\text{CO}_2 + H_2O
] - Step 3: Balance hydrogen atoms.
There are 14 hydrogen atoms in heptanol (C₇H₁₄O₂), so you need 7 H₂O molecules to balance the hydrogen atoms:
[
\text{C}7\text{H}{14}\text{O}_2 + O_2 \rightarrow 7\text{CO}_2 + 7\text{H}_2\text{O}
] - Step 4: Balance oxygen atoms.
On the right-hand side of the equation, you have 7 CO₂ molecules (7 × 2 = 14 oxygen atoms) and 7 H₂O molecules (7 × 1 = 7 oxygen atoms), for a total of 21 oxygen atoms. On the left, heptanol (C₇H₁₄O₂) already provides 2 oxygen atoms, so you need 19 more from oxygen molecules (O₂). Since each O₂ molecule provides 2 oxygen atoms, you need 11 O₂ molecules:
[
\text{C}7\text{H}{14}\text{O}_2 + 11\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 7\text{CO}_2 + 7\text{H}_2\text{O}
]
Thus, the balanced combustion equation for heptanol is:
[
\text{C}7\text{H}{14}\text{O}_2 + 11\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 7\text{CO}_2 + 7\text{H}_2\text{O}
]
This equation satisfies the law of conservation of mass, where the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the reaction.