Answer to Question #76203 in Organic Chemistry for bashir hussain

Question

When al kane undergoes combustion must the equation be ballanced

Answer 1

1. When alkane is heated in the presence of sufficient air or dioxygen it forms carbon dioxide and water and enormous amount of heat energy is released. For example:
CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + 2H2O (l); ∆cHΘ = – 890 kJ mol-1
C4H10 + 13/2 O2(g) → 4CO2 (g) + 5H2O (l); ∆cHΘ = – 2875.84 kJ mol-1
The above reaction can be generalised as follows:
CnH2n+2 + ((3n+1)/2) O2 → nCO2 + (n+1) H2O
Alkanes can also be used as a fuel, as they produce large amounts of heat.