Question

1. in combustion reactions, a substance reacts with oxygen gas to produce heat and light.

common fuels involved in combustion include carbon and hydrogen in their chemical formula.
we can write the generic reaction for these combustions reactions as follows:
c_xh_y + o_2 → co_2 + h_2o

1. the candle is made of paraffin wax, c_{25}h_{52}.

build the chemical equation for the combustion reaction that occurs when the candle burns.
c_{25}h_{52} + ? → ? + ?
choices:
o h_2o o_2 co_2 c co ch_4 ho_2

Explanation:

Step1: Identify reactant and products

Combustion reaction of hydrocarbons (like \( \ce{C_{25}H_{52}} \)) involves reaction with oxygen (\( \ce{O_2} \)) to produce carbon dioxide (\( \ce{CO_2} \)) and water (\( \ce{H_2O} \)). So the reactants are \( \ce{C_{25}H_{52}} \) and \( \ce{O_2} \), products are \( \ce{CO_2} \) and \( \ce{H_2O} \).

Step2: Fill in the blanks

First blank (reactant) is \( \ce{O_2} \), second blank (product) is \( \ce{CO_2} \), third blank (product) is \( \ce{H_2O} \).

Answer:

\( \ce{C_{25}H_{52}} + \boldsymbol{\ce{O_2}}
ightarrow \boldsymbol{\ce{CO_2}} + \boldsymbol{\ce{H_2O}} \)