Final answer:
Propane is a hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C3H8, consisting of a three-carbon backbone bonded to eight hydrogen atoms. It's one of the simplest alkanes and is used as a fuel, with the complete combustion equation showing its reaction with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water.
Step-by-step explanation:
Propane is a hydrocarbon with a chemical formula of C3H8. It contains a backbone of three carbon (C) atoms. Each of these carbon atoms is bonded to hydrogen (H) atoms to satisfy the alkane general formula CnH2n+2. Therefore, counting the hydrogen atoms bonded to the carbon backbone in propane, you should be able to confirm that there are eight hydrogen atoms, making the molecular formula C3H8. This is the correct composition for propane, which is one of the simplest alkanes along with methane (CH4) and ethane (C2H6).
When looking for a model that shows propane, you would expect to see a chain of three carbons each bonded to the appropriate number of hydrogens to total eight hydrogen atoms. As a commonly used fuel, the complete combustion of propane can be represented by the balanced chemical equation: C3H8 (g) + 5 O2 (g) → 3 CO2 (g) + 4 H2O (l).