Balancing an equation: C4H10 + O2 --> CO2 + H2O

Question

I know how to balance an equation but this one, in particular, seems a bit hard. I kept the C4H10 the same and for the O2 on the reactants side I end up having to put 30?

Here's my work:

C4H10 + O2 --> CO2 + H2O

C = 4 C = 1 x 4

H = 10 H = 2 x 5

O = 2 x 30 = 60 O = 3 x 4 = 12 x 5 = 60

answer: C4H10 + 30 O2 --> 4CO2 + 5H2O

Is there something that I am doing wrong, or is my answer correct?

Answer 1

C4H10 + O2 --> CO2 + H2O

This is a combustion reaction. The simplest way to balance any combustion reaction is to

1). balance C first

2). balance H next

3). balance O last

To balance C we have...

C4H10 + O2 --> 4CO2 + H2O

To balance H we have...

C4H10 + O2 --> 4CO2 + 5H2O

To balance O we have...

C4H10 + 6.5 O2 --> 4CO2 + 5H2O

But we don't like fractions, so just multiply everything by 2...

2C4H10 + 13 O2 --> 8CO2 + 10H2O

Answer 2

The balanced eqn I got is:

2 C₄H₁₀ + 13 O₂ --> 8 CO₂ + 10 H₂O

Left side: right side:

C: 4 x 2 = 8 8 x 1 = 8

H: 2 x 10 = 20 10 x 2 = 20

O: 13 x 2 = 26 (8 x 2) + (10 x 1) = 16 + 10 = 26

Hope this helps!