Question

Propane camping stoves produce heat by the combustion of gaseous propane (C3H8). Balance the skeletal equation for the combustion of propane.
C3H8(g)+O2(g)→CO2(g)+H2O(g)

Answer 1

Easy (: 

C₃H₈ (g) + O₂ (g) ---> CO₂ (g) + H₂O 

1 C₃H₈ (g) +  5 O₂ (g) ---> 3 CO₂ (g) + 4 H₂O 

With this there is the same amount of elements on each side (You take the larger number in front and multiply it by whats after it. So you have 3 C, 8 H, and 10 O on one side, and then the next mirrors is with 3 C, 8 H, and 10 O. 

Answer 2

Explanation:

The given reaction is as follows.

           $C_{3}H_{8}(g) + O_{2} \rightarrow CO_{2}(g) + H_{2}O(g)$

A balanced reaction is defined as the reaction which contains equal number of atoms on both reactant and product side.

Number of atoms on reactant side are as follows.

C = 13

H = 8

O = 2

Number of atoms on product side are as follows.

C = 1

O = 3

H = 2

Therefore, to balance this equation we multiply oxygen by 5 on reactant side. Also, we multiply $CO_{2}$ by 3 and $H_{2}O$ by 4 on product side by 2. Hence, the complete balanced chemical equation will be as follows.

     $C_{3}H_{8}(g) + 5O_{2} \rightarrow 3CO_{2}(g) + 4H_{2}O(g)$