How do I write equation for the combustion of CH4 to give CO2 and water?

Question

↳Redirected from "How do you name branched alkanes?"

6770 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2015-11-25T06:03:55

$"CH"_4" + 2O"_2"$ $rarr$ $"CO"_2" + 2H"_2"O"$

Unbalanced Equation

$"CH"_4" + O"_2"$ $rarr$ $"CO"_2" + H"_2"O"$

Balance the hydrogen.

Place a coefficient of $2$ in front of the $"H"_2"O"$ .

$"CH"_4" + O"_2"$ $rarr$ $"CO"_2" + 2H"_2"O"$

Balance the oxygen.

Place a coefficient of $2$ in front of the $"O"_2"$ .

$"CH"_4" + 2O"_2"$ $rarr$ $"CO"_2" + 2H"_2"O"$

There are now equal numbers of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation, and it is now balanced.

Number of Atoms on Left Side: $"1C; 4H; 4O"$

Number of Atoms on Right Side: $"1C; 4H; 4O"$