The coefficient of Oxygen in the balanced reaction : 3
Further explanation
Given
Reaction(unbalanced)
C2H4+ O2--> CO2+H2O
Required
The coefficient of Oxygen
Solution
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