Write the balanced chemical equation for each reaction. d. Liquid pentane (C₅H₁₂) reacts with gaseous oxygen to form carbon dioxide and liquid water.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the reactants and products: The reactants are liquid pentane (C_5H_{12}) and gaseous oxygen (O_2). The products are carbon dioxide (CO_2) and liquid water (H_2O).
2. Write the unbalanced chemical equation: C_5H_{12} + O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2O.
3. Balance the carbon atoms: There are 5 carbon atoms in C_5H_{12}, so you need 5 CO_2 molecules on the product side. The equation becomes: C_5H_{12} + O_2 \rightarrow 5CO_2 + H_2O.
4. Balance the hydrogen atoms: There are 12 hydrogen atoms in C_5H_{12}, so you need 6 H_2O molecules on the product side. The equation becomes: C_5H_{12} + O_2 \rightarrow 5CO_2 + 6H_2O.
5. Balance the oxygen atoms: Count the oxygen atoms on the product side (5 CO_2 \times 2 + 6 H_2O \times 1 = 16 oxygen atoms). Therefore, you need 8 O_2 molecules on the reactant side. The balanced equation is: C_5H_{12} + 8O_2 \rightarrow 5CO_2 + 6H_2O.

Key Concepts

Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing chemical equations involves ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both the reactant and product sides. This is based on the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. To balance an equation, coefficients are adjusted in front of the chemical formulas.

Combustion Reactions

Combustion reactions are a type of chemical reaction where a substance (usually a hydrocarbon) reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. In the case of pentane (C5H12), it undergoes complete combustion when it reacts with oxygen, releasing energy in the form of heat and light. Understanding the products of combustion is essential for writing the balanced equation.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions based on their molar ratios. It allows chemists to predict the amounts of substances consumed and produced in a reaction. In balancing the equation for the combustion of pentane, stoichiometric coefficients will be used to ensure that the number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms is equal on both sides of the equation.