Balance C₃H₈ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O
C₃H₈(g) + 5 O₂(g) → 3 CO₂(g) + 4 H₂O(l)
Balance an equation
C₃H₈(g)+5O₂(g)→3CO₂(g)+4H₂O(l)
Balanced
Atoms on each side
| Atom | As writtenleft : right | Balancedleft : right |
|---|---|---|
| C | 3:1 | 3:3 |
| H | 8:2 | 8:8 |
| 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, C₃H₈: put 1 in front of it.
- C: 3 on the left. Put 3 in front of CO₂.
- H: 8 on the left. Put 4 in front of H₂O (4 × 2 = 8).
- O: 10 on the right. Put 5 in front of O₂ (5 × 2 = 10).
- Check: C 3 = 3, H 8 = 8, O 10 = 10. Balanced.
What happens
It is a combustion reaction: a substance burns in oxygen and gives out heat and light. Propane, a gas in LPG, burns completely in oxygen to give carbon dioxide and water.
Propane burning: quick answers
What is the balanced equation for propane burning?
C₃H₈(g) + 5 O₂(g) → 3 CO₂(g) + 4 H₂O(l). The coefficients are 1, 5, 3 and 4. Each side then has 3 C, 8 H and 10 O.
What type of reaction is propane burning?
It is a combustion reaction: a substance burns in oxygen and gives out heat and light. Propane, a gas in LPG, burns completely in oxygen to give carbon dioxide and water.
How do you balance C₃H₈ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O?
Start with the biggest formula, C₃H₈: put 1 in front of it. C: 3 on the left. Put 3 in front of CO₂. H: 8 on the left. Put 4 in front of H₂O (4 × 2 = 8). O: 10 on the right. Put 5 in front of O₂ (5 × 2 = 10). Never change a subscript, because that would change the substance.