Balance the following equation: C3H8 + O2 ---> CO2 + H2O
The balanced equation for the combustion of propane (C3H8) in the presence of oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) is:
C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O
In this balanced equation, the number of carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, and oxygen atoms is the same on both sides of the equation, indicating that the law of conservation of mass is satisfied.
The purpose of balancing a chemical equation is to ensure that the same number of atoms are present on both sides of the equation.
The steps to balance the equation are: 1) Write down the unbalanced equation, 2) Balance the carbons by adding a coefficient of 3 in front of CO2, 3) Balance the hydrogens by adding a coefficient of 4 in front of H2O, 4) Balance the oxygens by adding a coefficient of 5 in front of O2.
The balanced chemical equation is: C3H8 + 5O2 —> 3CO2 + 4H2O.
Balancing a chemical equation is important because it ensures that the law of conservation of mass is upheld, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.
No, a chemical equation cannot be considered complete if it is not balanced because it does not accurately represent the chemical reaction taking place.
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