The coefficients are 2C₄H₁₀ + 13O₂ ⟶ 8CO₂ + 10H₂O
<em>Step 1</em>. <em>Gather all the information</em> in one place.
<em>M</em>_r: 58.12 32.00 44.01 18.02
<em>a</em>C₄H₁₀ + <em>b</em>O₂ ⟶ <em>c</em>CO₂ + <em>d</em>H₂O
<em>m</em>/g: 1.76 0.90
<em>n</em>/mol: 0.010
<em>Step 2</em>. Calculate the <em>mass of C₄H₁₀</em>.
Mass = 0.010 mol C₄H₁₀ × (58.12 g C₄H₁₀/1 mol C₄H₁₀) = 0.581 g C₄H₁₀
<em>Step 3</em>. Calculate the <em>mass of O₂</em>
Mass of C₄H₁₀ + mass of O₂ = mass of CO₂ + mass of H₂O
0.581 g + <em>x </em>g = 1.76 g + 0.90 g
<em>x</em> = 1.76 + 0.90 - 0.581 = 2.079
Our information now has the form:
M_r: 58.12 32.00 44.01 18.02
aC₄H₁₀ + bO₂ ⟶ cCO₂ + dH₂O
<em>m</em>/g: 0.581 2.079 1.76 0.90
<em>n</em>/mol: 0.010
<em>Step 4</em>. Calculate the <em>moles of each compound</em>.
Moles of O₂ = 2.079 g O₂ × (1 mol O₂/32.00 g O₂) = 0.064 97 mol O₂
Moles of CO₂ = 1.76 g CO₂ × (1 mol CO₂/44.01 g CO₂) = 0.040 00 mol CO₂
Moles of H₂O = 0.90 g H₂O × (1 mol H₂O/18.02 g H₂O) = 0.0499 mol H₂O
Our information now has the form:
<em>a</em>C₄H₁₀ + <em>b</em>O₂ ⟶ <em>c</em>CO₂ + <em>d</em>H₂O
<em>n</em>/mol: 0.010 0.064 97 0.040 00 0.0499
<em>Step 5</em>: Calculate the <em>molar ratios</em> of all the compounds.
<em>a</em>:<em>b</em>:<em>c</em>:<em>d</em> = 0.010:0.064 97:0.040 00:0.0499 = 1:6.497:4.000:4.99
= 2 :12.99:8.00:9.98 ≈ 2:13:8:10
∴ <em>a</em> = 2; <em>b</em> = 13; <em>c</em> = 8; <em>d</em> = 10
The balanced equation is
2C₄H₁₀ + 13O₂ ⟶ 8CO₂ + 10H₂O
