Final answer:
The balanced chemical equation for the complete combustion of butanol is 2 C₄H₉OH(l) + 12 O₂(g) → 8 CO₂(g) + 10 H₂O(g), with the coefficient in front of O₂ being 12.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reaction of a hydrocarbon with oxygen to produce CO₂ and water is indeed referred to as complete combustion. The balanced reaction for the complete combustion of butanol (C₄H₉OH) is written as follows: 2 C₄H₉OH(l) + 12 O₂(g) → 8 CO₂(g) + 10 H₂O(g).
In this balanced equation, the coefficient in front of O₂ (oxygen gas) is 12. This ensures that there are enough oxygen molecules to completely combust the butanol into carbon dioxide and water.
When balancing equations like this, it's crucial to make sure the number of atoms for each element is equal on both sides of the equation. This aligns with the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.