Final answer:
The reaction is a combustion reaction involving C2H4 and O2, forming H2O and CO2 with energy release. The objective is to balance the chemical equation by adjusting coefficients to maintain an equal number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation, crucial for stoichiometry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reaction presented, C2H4 + O2 → H2O + CO2, appears to be a combustion reaction, as it involves the reaction of a hydrocarbon (ethylene, C2H4) with oxygen (O2) to produce water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2), along with the release of energy (1560 kJ). In order to properly balance this chemical equation, we have to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is equal on both the reactant and product sides of the equation. Balancing equations requires careful manipulation of coefficients to maintain the same number of atoms for each element. In the given examples, coefficients have been adjusted to balance the number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.
For instance, the balanced equation 2C2H6+7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O indicates that two formula units or molecules of ethane (C2H6) react with seven molecules of oxygen to yield four molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water. In terms of moles, these coefficients represent the mole-to-mole ratio in which the reactants and products participate in the reaction, which is critical for stoichiometry calculations.