Question

The reaction of a hydrocarbon with oxygen to produce CO₂ and water is called complete combustion. Write the balanced reaction for the complete combustion of heptane, C₇H₁₆, with the smallest whole number coefficients. Then choose the answer that is the sum of the coefficients in the balanced equation.

Answer 1

The complete combustion of heptane (C7H16) with oxygen is represented by the balanced equation C7H16 + 11O2 → 7CO2 + 8H2O, and the sum of the coefficients is 27.

Step-by-step explanation:

The complete combustion of heptane (C7H16) with oxygen produces carbon dioxide and water, and the balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:

C7H16 + 11O2 → 7CO2 + 8H2O.

To balance the equation, start with one molecule of heptane (C7H16). Counting the carbon and hydrogen atoms on the product side, you will have 7CO2 and 8H2O, providing 7 carbon atoms and 16 hydrogen atoms.

To balance the oxygen atoms, you need 7 × 2 = 14 oxygen atoms from CO2 and 8 oxygen atoms from H2O for a total of 22 oxygen atoms on the product side.

Since each O2 molecule has 2 oxygen atoms, you need 11 O2 molecules. Thus, the sum of the coefficients in this balanced equation is 1 (C7H16) + 11 (O2) + 7 (CO2) + 8 (H2O) = 27.