Question

write a balanced chemical equation based on the following description: liquid c₇h₈o reacts with oxygen gas to produce carbon dioxide gas and water vapor c₇h₈o(l) + o₂(g) →

Explanation:

Step1: Write the un - balanced equation

The un - balanced chemical equation is \(C_{7}H_{8}O(l)+O_{2}(g)\to CO_{2}(g)+H_{2}O(g)\)

Step2: Balance the carbon atoms

There are 7 carbon atoms in \(C_{7}H_{8}O\). So, we put a coefficient of 7 in front of \(CO_{2}\). The equation becomes \(C_{7}H_{8}O(l)+O_{2}(g)\to7CO_{2}(g)+H_{2}O(g)\)

Step3: Balance the hydrogen atoms

There are 8 hydrogen atoms in \(C_{7}H_{8}O\). So, we put a coefficient of 4 in front of \(H_{2}O\). The equation becomes \(C_{7}H_{8}O(l)+O_{2}(g)\to7CO_{2}(g)+4H_{2}O(g)\)

Step4: Balance the oxygen atoms

On the right - hand side, the number of oxygen atoms in \(7CO_{2}\) is \(7\times2 = 14\) and in \(4H_{2}O\) is \(4\times1=4\). So, the total number of oxygen atoms on the right - hand side is \(14 + 4=18\). In \(C_{7}H_{8}O\), there is 1 oxygen atom. Let the coefficient of \(O_{2}\) be \(x\). Then \(1 + 2x=18\), so \(2x=17\), \(x=\frac{17}{2}\). But we want whole - number coefficients. Multiply the entire equation by 2 to get rid of the fraction.

The balanced equation is \(2C_{7}H_{8}O(l)+17O_{2}(g)\to14CO_{2}(g)+8H_{2}O(g)\)

Answer:

\(2C_{7}H_{8}O(l)+17O_{2}(g)\to14CO_{2}(g)+8H_{2}O(g)\)