Question

Balance and complete the following combustion reaction. Enter the sum of the balanced coeffiecients as your answer. Assign "blank" coefficient as value of 1.

hexacarbon hexahydride (g) + oxygen (g) --->

Answer 1

The equation of combustion of benzene:

C₆H₆ (g) + O₂ (g) CO₂ (g) + H₂O (l)

Number of carbon (C) atoms: 6 on the LHS, 1 on the RHS.

Number of oxygen (O) atoms: 2 on the LHS, 3 on the RHS.

Number of hydrogen (H) atoms: 6 on the LHS, 2 on the RHS.

Since we have an odd number of carbons, we should probably balance that first.

Multiply by 6 on RHS: C₆H₆ (g) + O₂ (g) 6CO₂ (g) + H₂O (l)

Balance the hydrogen by multiplying by 3 on the RHS:

C₆H₆ (g) + O₂ (g) 6CO₂ (g) + 3H₂O (l)

Let's balance the oxygen by multiplying by 15/2 on LHS:

C₆H₆ (g) + 15/2O₂ (g) 6CO₂ (g) + 3H₂O (l)

Let's multiply by 2 on both sides to convert the fraction into whole number.

2 C₆H₆ (g) + 15 O₂ (g) 12 CO₂ (g) + 6 H₂O (l)

This is the balanced equation for combustion reaction of benzene.

Sum of the balanced coefficients = 2+15+12+6= 35