Final answer:
The balanced chemical equation for the combustion of pentane, C5H12, in the presence of oxygen is: C5H12(l) + 8O2(g) → 5CO2(g) + 6H2O(l).
Step-by-step explanation:
The balanced equation for the combustion of pentane can be written by following the general formula for the combustion of hydrocarbons, which is: hydrocarbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water. Pentane is a hydrocarbon with the formula C5H12. When it combusts in the presence of oxygen, the products are carbon dioxide and water. Below is the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of pentane:
C5H12(l) + 8O2(g) → 5CO2(g) + 6H2O(l)
To balance this equation, we can start by adjusting the coefficients to overall balance the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the reaction.