Question

Write the chemical equation of the reaction which takes place on burning ethanol in air.

Answer 1

The burning reaction of Ethanol $\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}\right)$ in the presence of air shows a combustion reaction.

The combustion of hydrocarbon is to give Carbon dioxide $\left({\mathrm{CO}}_2\right)$ and Water $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$ and evolve large amount of heat.

Chemical reaction

The combustion reaction of Ethanol $\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}\right)$ is:

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{OH}+3{\mathrm{O}}_2\to 2{\mathrm{CO}}_2+3{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}+\mathrm{Heat} \\ \mathrm{Ethanol}\mathrm{Oxygen}\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide}\mathrm{Water} \end{gathered}$$