Question

write a balanced chemical equation based on the following description: butanoic acid, c₃h₇cooh(l) reacts with oxygen gas to produce carbon dioxide gas and water vapor c₃h₇cooh(l) + o₂(g) →

Explanation:

Step1: Write the unbalanced equation

The unbalanced equation is \(C_3H_7COOH(l)+O_2(g)
ightarrow CO_2(g)+H_2O(g)\).

Step2: Balance carbon atoms

There are 4 carbon atoms in \(C_3H_7COOH\). So, we put a coefficient of 4 in front of \(CO_2\): \(C_3H_7COOH(l)+O_2(g)
ightarrow 4CO_2(g)+H_2O(g)\).

Step3: Balance hydrogen atoms

There are 8 hydrogen atoms in \(C_3H_7COOH\). So, we put a coefficient of 4 in front of \(H_2O\): \(C_3H_7COOH(l)+O_2(g)
ightarrow 4CO_2(g)+4H_2O(g)\).

Step4: Balance oxygen atoms

On the right - hand side, there are \(4\times2 + 4\times1=12\) oxygen atoms from \(CO_2\) and \(H_2O\). In \(C_3H_7COOH\), there are 2 oxygen atoms. So, the number of oxygen atoms from \(O_2\) is \(12 - 2=10\). Since each \(O_2\) molecule has 2 oxygen atoms, we put a coefficient of 5 in front of \(O_2\).

Answer:

\(C_3H_7COOH(l)+5O_2(g)
ightarrow4CO_2(g)+4H_2O(g)\)