Balance C₄H₁₀ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O
2 C₄H₁₀(g) + 13 O₂(g) → 8 CO₂(g) + 10 H₂O(l)
Balance an equation
2C₄H₁₀(g)+13O₂(g)→8CO₂(g)+10H₂O(l)
Balanced
Atoms on each side
| Atom | As writtenleft : right | Balancedleft : right |
|---|---|---|
| C | 4:1 | 8:8 |
| H | 10:2 | 20:20 |
| O | 2:3 | 26:26 |
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, C₄H₁₀: put 1 in front of it.
- C: 4 on the left. Put 4 in front of CO₂.
- H: 10 on the left. Put 5 in front of H₂O (5 × 2 = 10).
- O: 13 on the right. Put 13/2 in front of O₂ (13/2 × 2 = 13).
- Clear the fraction: multiply every coefficient by 2.
- Check: C 8 = 8, H 20 = 20, O 26 = 26. Balanced.
What happens
It is a combustion reaction: a substance burns in oxygen and gives out heat and light. Butane, the main gas in LPG cylinders, burns in oxygen to give carbon dioxide and water.
Butane burning: quick answers
What is the balanced equation for butane burning?
2 C₄H₁₀(g) + 13 O₂(g) → 8 CO₂(g) + 10 H₂O(l). The coefficients are 2, 13, 8 and 10. Each side then has 8 C, 20 H and 26 O.
What type of reaction is butane burning?
It is a combustion reaction: a substance burns in oxygen and gives out heat and light. Butane, the main gas in LPG cylinders, burns in oxygen to give carbon dioxide and water.
How do you balance C₄H₁₀ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O?
Start with the biggest formula, C₄H₁₀: put 1 in front of it. C: 4 on the left. Put 4 in front of CO₂. H: 10 on the left. Put 5 in front of H₂O (5 × 2 = 10). O: 13 on the right. Put 13/2 in front of O₂ (13/2 × 2 = 13). Clear the fraction: multiply every coefficient by 2. Never change a subscript, because that would change the substance.