Final answer:
The balanced chemical equation for a reaction between 1-pentanol and propionic acid, which is an esterification reaction, would yield pentyl propionate and water. The equation C5H11OH + CH3CH2COOH → C5H11OCOCH2CH3 + H2O is balanced, showing the production of an ester and water.
Step-by-step explanation:
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction between 1-pentanol and propionic acid is typically an esterification reaction. However, the question does not provide enough context about specific reaction conditions like the presence of a catalyst or heat, which are usually required for esterification. Generally, the reaction between an alcohol (like 1-pentanol, C5H11OH) and a carboxylic acid (like propionic acid, CH3CH2COOH) produces an ester and water.
In the classic esterification process, the balanced chemical equation would be:
C5H11OH + CH3CH2COOH → C5H11OCOCH2CH3 + H2O
This hypothetical reaction would produce pentyl propionate (C5H11OCOCH2CH3) and water (H2O).
To balance the equation, you would ensure there are equal numbers of each type of atom on both the reactant and the product sides of the equation. The example equation provided is already balanced with one mole of 1-pentanol reacting with one mole of propionic acid to generate one mole of pentyl propionate and one mole of water.