Question

the incomplete combustion of substances such as ethane (c 2h 6) produces carbon monoxide (co), a toxic pollutant. an incomplete submicroscopic representation of this process is shown below. how many particles of each type should have been present in the reactants?

Answer 1

a.C2H6: 1

b.O2: 3

c.CO: 2

d. H2O: 3 .

The balanced chemical equation for the incomplete combustion of ethane. The incomplete combustion of ethane produces carbon monoxide, water vapor, and heat.

The balanced chemical equation is as follows:

C2H6 + 2O2 → 2CO + 3H2O

Looking at the reactants in the balanced chemical equation, we see that we need 1 molecule of ethane and 2 molecules of oxygen to produce 2 molecules of carbon monoxide and 3 molecules of water vapor.

Therefore, to answer the question, we need to count the number of particles of each type in the reactants.

C2H6: There is 1 molecule of ethane in the reactants.

O2: There are 3 molecules of oxygen in the reactants.

CO: There are 2 molecules of carbon monoxide in the products.

H2O: There are 3 molecules of water vapor in the products.

Therefore, the following number of particles of each type should have been present in the reactants:

C2H6: 1

O2: 3

CO: 2

H2O: 3 .