Question

Determine the balanced chemical equation for this reaction.C8H18(g) O2(g)→CO2(g) H2O(g)Enter the coefficients for each compound in order, separated by commas. For example, 1,2,3,4 would indicate one mole of C8H18, two moles of O2, three moles of CO2, and four moles of H2O.

Answer 1

Answer: The coefficients are 2, 17, 8 and 18

Explanation:

A balanced chemical equation always follow law of conservation of mass.

This law states that mass can neither be created nor be destroyed but it can only be transformed from one form to another form. This also means that total number of individual atoms on reactant side must be equal to the total number of individual atoms on the product side.  

For the given chemical reaction, the balanced equation follows:

$2C_8H_{18}(g)+25O_2(g)\rightarrow 16CO_2(g)+18H_2O(g)$

By Stoichiometry of the reaction:

2 moles of octane reacts with 25 moles of oxygen gas to produce 16 moles of carbon dioxide gas and 18 moles of water vapor.

Hence, the coefficients are 2, 25, 16 and 18

Answer 2

Answer:

2C₈H₁₈(g) + 25O₂(g)→16CO₂(g) + 18H₂O

Explanation:

To balance an equation, the moles of one element on one side of the equation should be the same as those on the other side of the equation. This is because (as a law of thermodynamics), in a chemical reaction, the matter is not destroyed nor created - atoms are only rearranged.