Question

Identify the product obtained and balance the following reaction.

${\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{H}}_{10}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to$

Answer 1

Combustion reaction.

When hydrocarbons burns they combine with the oxygen in the air to form Carbon dioxide and water along with heat and light.

• When Butane react with oxygen, Carbon dioxide, water and large amount of heat is formed.
• ${\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{H}}_{10}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to {\mathrm{CO}}_2+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}+\mathrm{heat}$
• It is an exothermic reaction, heat energy is released during the reaction.

Following steps are used to balance the chemical equation.

i) Write the skeletal equation

${\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{H}}_{10}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to {\mathrm{CO}}_2+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}+\mathrm{heat}$

ii) Listing out number of atoms of various elements.

Atom	L.H.S	R.H.S
C	4	1
H	10	2
O	2	3

Balancing based on maximum number of atoms

iii) Balancing of Hydrogen

$2{\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{H}}_{10}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to {\mathrm{CO}}_2+10{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}+\mathrm{heat}$

iv) Balancing of Carbon

$2{\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{H}}_{10}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to 8{\mathrm{CO}}_2+10{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}+\mathrm{heat}$

v) Balancing of Oxygen

$2{\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{H}}_{10}+13{\mathrm{O}}_2\to 8{\mathrm{CO}}_2+10{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}+\mathrm{heat}$

Number of atoms on the left hand side is equal to number of atoms on the right hand side.

So the equation is balanced.

iii) Write the physical state .

$2{\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{H}}_{10}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+13{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to 8{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+10{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+\mathrm{heat}$