Answer to Question #348492 in General Chemistry for Berto

Question

Propane, C₃H₈, is a fuel commonly used for cooking on gas grills and for heating in rural areas where natural gas is unavailable. Propane reacts with oxygen gas to produce heat and the products carbon dioxide and water. This combustion reaction is represented by the unbalanced equation

C₃H₈(g) + O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + H₂O(g)

Give the balanced equation for this reaction, and state the meaning of the equation in terms of numbers of molecules and moles of molecules.

Answer 1

C₃H₈ + 5O₂ = 3CO₂ + 4H₂O

1mol of C₃H₈ requires 5mol of O₂ to burn. The reaction produces 3 mol of CO₂ and 4 mol of H₂O