Final answer:
The chemical equation for the combustion of ethane is balanced, with equal numbers of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms on both the reactant and product sides.
Step-by-step explanation:
Combustion of Ethane Chemical Equation
The combustion of ethane (C2H6) involves ethane reacting with oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The given balanced chemical equation for this reaction is: 2C2H6 + 7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O. On the reactant side, we have 4 carbon atoms (from 2 molecules of C2H6), 12 hydrogen atoms (also from 2 molecules of C2H6), and 14 oxygen atoms (from 7 molecules of O2). On the product side, there are 4 carbon atoms (from 4 molecules of CO2), 12 hydrogen atoms (from 6 molecules of H2O), and 14 oxygen atoms (10 in 4 molecules of CO2 and 4 in 6 molecules of H2O). The number and kinds of atoms are the same on both sides of the equation, which means the law of conservation of mass is satisfied.
As a result, this chemical equation is balanced.