Final answer:
Carbon participates as a reactant in many chemical reactions, particularly in combustion processes such as the burning of methane, ethane, or propane. Other reactions include the reverse of combustion, like photosynthesis, and decomposition reactions such as the breakdown of calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
Finding a chemical reaction where carbon participates as one of the reactants requires exploring different types of reactions. One common example is the combustion of substances that contain carbon. Here are five reactions involving carbon:
- Combustion of methane: CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
- Combustion of ethane: 2C2H6 + 7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O
- Combustion of propane: C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O
- Photosynthesis (reverse reaction of combustion): 6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
- Decomposition of calcium carbonate: CaCO3 → CaO + CO2
Each of these reactions involves carbon in the reactants, undergoing a transformation where new substances are produced, signifying the changes in energy as well as matter.