Question

What atom should be balanced last when balancing hydrocarbon combustion

reactions?
A. The oxygen atoms
B. The carbon atoms
C. Any of the three
D. The hydrogen atoms

Answer 1

A. The oxygen atoms

Step-by-step explanation:

A hydrocarbon combustion reaction consist of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. In balancing the hydrocarbon combustion reaction at first carbon and hydrogen atoms are balanced and at last oxygen atoms are balanced.

Oxygen atoms are balanced at the end because oxygen atom stand alone as O2 and easier to balance than hydrogen and carbon.

Hence, the correct option is "A".