How would you balance the combustion reaction between octane and oxygen: 2C8H18 + O2 → CO2 + H2O?

Question

How would you balance the combustion reaction between octane and oxygen: 2C8H18 + O2 → CO2 + H2O?

1 Answer

Impact of this question

3408 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2015-11-03T20:14:11

$C_{8} H_{18} + \frac{25}{2} O_{2} \to 8 C O_{2} + 9 H_{2} O$ $C_8H_18 +25/2O_2 rarr 8CO_2 + 9H_2O$

Explanation:

Is the above equation balanced? Don't trust my arithmetic. What would be the physical states of each participant in the reaction? Internal combustion engines rarely combust gas this cleanly, and a lot of $C$ $C$ particulate, and $C O$ $CO$ gas are given off.

If (say) 1 equiv each of $C$ $C$ and $C O$ $CO$ were given off by the combustion, how would I balance this reaction?

$C_{8} H_{18} + x O_{2} \to y C O_{2} + C + C O + 9 H_{2} O$ $C_8H_18 + xO_2 rarr yCO_2 + C + CO +9H_2O$

Would the energy output be the same?

Science

Math

Humanities

... and beyond

How would you balance the combustion reaction between octane and oxygen: 2C8H18 + O2 → CO2 + H2O?

1 Answer

Explanation:

Related questions

Impact of this question