Final answer:
Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) contains 2 carbon atoms, 6 hydrogen atoms, and 1 oxygen atom. In a balanced combustion reaction, 3 molecules of oxygen react with 1 molecule of ethanol to produce 2 molecules of carbon dioxide and 3 molecules of water, releasing heat and light.
Step-by-step explanation:
When analyzing the composition of ethanol and oxygen, as well as the energy produced during their reaction, we look at molecular formulas and stoichiometry. Ethanol, with the chemical formula C₂H₅OH, contains 2 carbon atoms, 6 hydrogen atoms, and 1 oxygen atom. For molecular oxygen, the formula is O₂, indicating 2 oxygen atoms per molecule.
In the combustion of ethanol, which can be represented as C₂H₅OH + 3O₂ → 2CO₂ + 3H₂O, we balance the equation to show that 3 molecules of oxygen (O₂) react with a single molecule of ethanol to produce 2 molecules of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and 3 molecules of water (H₂O). The combustion of ethanol generates energy primarily in the form of heat and light, which are types of kinetic energy.