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When the equation, ___O2 + ___C 8H 18 →→ ___CO2 + ___H2O is balanced, the coefficient of O2 is:

When the equation, ___O2 + ___C 8H 18 →→ ___CO2 + ___H2O is balanced, the coefficient-example-1
User Amit Hagin
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1 Answer

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1) First let's rewrite the equation:

O₂ + C₈H₁₈ → CO₂ + H₂O

To balance the equation, we need to equal the number of atoms of each element on the reactants and products side. If you have 8 atoms of carbon on the reactants side, you need to have 8 atom on the products side as well. For this, ou put an eight on the left of the CO₂:

O₂ + C₈H₁₈ → 8 CO₂ + H₂O

You do the same thing for the rest of the elements.

25/2 O₂ + 1 C₈H₁₈ → 8 CO₂ + 9 H₂O

25/2 is a fraction. If you want the answer with just whole numbers, you multiply the whole equation by 2:

25 O₂ + 2 C₈H₁₈ → 16 CO₂ + 18 H₂O

So the coefficient of O₂ is 25.

User Mario Eis
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