Balanced Chemical Equation:
C2H5OH + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O
Explanation:
* Reactants:
* C2H5OH: Ethanol (a type of alcohol)
* O2: Oxygen (a diatomic gas)
* Products:
* CO2: Carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas)
* H2O: Water (a liquid)
Balancing the Equation:
Balancing chemical equations ensures that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. To balance this equation:
1. Carbon (C): There are 2 carbon atoms on the left side and 2 on the right.
2. Hydrogen (H): There are 6 hydrogen atoms on the left and 6 on the right.
3. Oxygen (O): There are 3 oxygen atoms on the left and 7 on the right.
To balance the oxygen, we need to add a coefficient of 3 in front of O2 on the reactant side:
C2H5OH + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O
Now the equation is balanced, with equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides.
Important Note: This reaction releases energy in the form of heat and light, which is why ethanol is used as a fuel.