Balance equation for combustion of ethane will be:
2C₂H₆(g) + 7O₂(g)--------> 4CO₂(g) + 6H₂O(g)
To balance the equation:
1. Balance the number of carbon atom on both side:
C₂H₆(g) + O₂(g)--------> CO₂(g) + H₂O(g)
1. balance the number of carbon on both side, as in reactant there are 2 but in product one,
so , multiply the CO₂, by 2 in the product.
2. Balance the number of hydrogen on both side as in reactant the number of hydrogen is 3 but in product it is 6 so, multiplythe number of H₂O by 3,
so multiply the number of H₂O by 3 in product.
3. Balance the number of oxygen on both side , as 1 and 2 step increases the number of oxygen and it becomes 7 , so to balance the number of oxygen on both side by mutiplying the number of O₂ by 7/2 in reactant .
4. Now, doubling the equation will give balance equation that is:
2C₂H₆(g) + 7O₂(g)--------> 4CO₂(g) + 6H₂O(g)