Consider the combustion of ethane gas, C2H6. In the balanced chemical equation, what are the lowest, whole number coefficients? Match the number to the species.

2C2H6 + 7O2 —> 4CO2 + 6H20

The coefficients are 2, 7, 4, 6

Explanation:

Ethane undergoes Combustion to produce CO2 and H20 as shown by the equation below:

C2H6 + O2 —> CO2 + H20

The equation above is not balance. To balance the equation, do the following:

There are 2 atoms of C on the left side of the equation and 1atom on the right. It can be balance by putting 2 in front of CO2 as illustrated below:

C2H6 + O2 —> 2CO2 + H20

There are 6 atoms of H on the left side and 2 atoms on the right side. It can be balance by putting 3 in front of H2O as illustrated below:

C2H6 + O2 —> 2CO2 + 3H20

Now, there are a total of 7atoms of O on the right side and 2 atoms on the left. It can be balance by putting 7/2 in front of O2 as shown below:

C2H6 + 7/2O2 —> 2CO2 + 3H20

Multiply through by 2 to clear the fraction as shown below:

2C2H6 + 7O2 —> 4CO2 + 6H20

Now the equation is balanced.

The coefficients are 2, 7, 4, 6