#C_6H_12O_6 + H_2O + en ergy -> CO_2 + O_2#. How can you identify what is wrong with this equation?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 15, 2017

Well, combustion of carbohydrates produces energy..........and also the equation is not stoichiometrically balanced.

Explanation:

The balanced chemical equation for complete combustion of glucose is:

#C_6H_12O_6(s) +6O_2(g) rarr 6CO_2(g) + 6H_2O(l)+Delta#

The oxidizing agent is of course #"dioxygen"#, which the given equation also does not include.

Note, is this balanced? For every reactant particle is there a corresponding product particle?

The #Delta# symbol represents the heat produced in the reaction; i.e. it is an exothermic reaction, in which the strong #C=O# and #O-H# bonds FORMED outweigh the #C-C#, #C-H#, etc. bonds broken.

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