What is the chemical equation for the combustion of butane?

2 Answers
anor277
Nov 26, 2015

Butane + oxygen rarr carbon dioxide + water

Explanation:

C_4H_10(g) + 13/2O_2(g) rarr 4CO_2(g) + 5H_2O(g)

Is the equation above balanced? How do you know? How would you remove the 13/2 coefficient for dioxygen?

The reaction above represents complete combustion. Suppose I wanted to model a reaction where some of the hydrocarbon were combusted to CO; how would you represent this?

Meave60
Nov 26, 2015

color(red)(2)"C"_4"H"_10("g") + color(red)(13)"O"_2("g")rarrcolor(red)8"CO"_2("g") + color(red)(10)"H"_2"O(g)"

Explanation:

The chemical formula of butane is "C"_4"H"_10". The combustion of butane is a reaction between butane and oxygen gas that produces carbon dioxide gas and water.

color(red)(2)"C"_4"H"_10("g") + color(red)(13)"O"_2("g")rarrcolor(red)8"CO"_2("g") + color(red)(10)"H"_2"O(g)"

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