Question

What is the coefficient of Oxygen in the balanced reaction below:

Answer 1

The coefficient of Oxygen in the balanced reaction : 3

Further explanation

Given

Reaction(unbalanced)

C2H4+ O2--> CO2+H2O​

Required

The coefficient of Oxygen

Solution

• Give a coefficient

C₂H₄+ aO₂⇒ bCO₂+cH₂O​

C, left=2, right=b⇒b=2

H, left=4, right=2c⇒2c=4⇒c=2

O, left=2a, right=2b+c⇒2a=2b+c⇒2a=2.2+2⇒2a=6⇒a=3

The equation becomes :

C₂H₄+ 3O₂⇒ 2CO₂+2H₂O​