Balance C₂H₂ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O
2 C₂H₂(g) + 5 O₂(g) → 4 CO₂(g) + 2 H₂O(l)
Balance an equation
2C₂H₂(g)+5O₂(g)→4CO₂(g)+2H₂O(l)
Balanced
Atoms on each side
| Atom | As writtenleft : right | Balancedleft : right |
|---|---|---|
| C | 2:1 | 4:4 |
| H | 2:2 | 4:4 |
| O | 2:3 | 10:10 |
Check atoms
How to balance it, step by step
- Count the atoms of each element on both sides, as written.
- Start with the biggest formula, C₂H₂: put 1 in front of it.
- C: 2 on the left. Put 2 in front of CO₂.
- H: 2 on the left. Put 1 in front of H₂O (1 × 2 = 2).
- O: 5 on the right. Put 5/2 in front of O₂ (5/2 × 2 = 5).
- Clear the fraction: multiply every coefficient by 2.
- Check: C 4 = 4, H 4 = 4, O 10 = 10. Balanced.
What happens
It is a combustion reaction: a substance burns in oxygen and gives out heat and light. Acetylene (ethyne) burns in oxygen with a very hot flame, used for welding metals.
Acetylene burning: quick answers
What is the balanced equation for acetylene burning?
2 C₂H₂(g) + 5 O₂(g) → 4 CO₂(g) + 2 H₂O(l). The coefficients are 2, 5, 4 and 2. Each side then has 4 C, 4 H and 10 O.
What type of reaction is acetylene burning?
It is a combustion reaction: a substance burns in oxygen and gives out heat and light. Acetylene (ethyne) burns in oxygen with a very hot flame, used for welding metals.
How do you balance C₂H₂ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O?
Start with the biggest formula, C₂H₂: put 1 in front of it. C: 2 on the left. Put 2 in front of CO₂. H: 2 on the left. Put 1 in front of H₂O (1 × 2 = 2). O: 5 on the right. Put 5/2 in front of O₂ (5/2 × 2 = 5). Clear the fraction: multiply every coefficient by 2. Never change a subscript, because that would change the substance.