Predict the product of the following reaction, balance the equation, and state the type of reaction:

Question

C3H7OH + O2 --> ?

Answer 1

This is a typical combustion reaction.

The products will be CO2 and H2O

2C₃H₇OH + 9O₂ ==> 6CO₂ + 8H₂O

Answer 2

The reactants here are gaseous oxygen, the kind we breathe, and a hydrocarbon, which can serve as a combustible fuel source. When we burn fuel in an excess of gaseous oxygen, we produce carbon dioxide and water vapor a combustion reaction:

C₃H₇OH _(l) + O_{2 (g)} → CO_{2 (g)} + H₂O _(g)

This reaction isn't balanced yet, though!

Balance C: C₃H₇OH _(l) + O_{2 (g)} → 3CO_{2 (g)} + H₂O _(g)

Balance H: C₃H₇OH _(l) + O_{2 (g)} → 3CO_{2 (g)} + 4H₂O _(g)

Balance O: Uh oh! Since we have 3 on the left and an even number on the right, we'll have to double everything we've done so far.

2C₃H₇OH _(l) + O_{2 (g)} → 6CO_{2 (g)} + 8H₂O _(g)

We have 2 oxygens from the hydrocarbon and 12 + 8 = 20 oxygens in our products, so we're missing 18 oxygens on the reactants side. We'd fix that with a 9 in front of the gaseous oxygen:

2C₃H₇OH _(l) + 9O_{2 (g)} → 6CO_{2 (g)} + 8H₂O _(g)