Question

How do you balance this equation ${C_2}{H_6} + {O_2} = C{O_2} + {H_2}O$?

Answer 1

In a balanced chemical equation, the number of atoms present in the left side of the reaction which is the reactant side and the number of atoms present in the right side of the reaction which is the product side is equal.

Complete step by step answer:
When one or more than one chemical reactant combines with each other to form a new product is called a chemical reaction. There are various types of chemical reactions like combination reaction, elimination reaction, displacement reaction.
The chemical equation is defined as the symbolic representation of the chemical reaction, where the whole chemical reaction is represented with the help of symbols and formulae. In chemical equations the reactants are placed in the left side of the reaction and the product is written in the right side of the reaction.
The chemical equation is given below.
${C_2}{H_6} + {O_2} \to C{O_2} + {H_2}O$
In this reaction, ethane reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water.
The balanced chemical equation is defined as the equation where the number of moles of reactant and the number of moles of product are same.
The given chemical equation is not balanced as the number of moles on the reactant side is not the same as the number of moles on the product side.

Name of atom	Number in reactant side	Number in product side
C	2	1
H	6	2
O	2	3

To balance the equation, multiply ${C_2}{H_6}$ with 2, ${O_2}$ with 7, $C{O_2}$with 4 and ${H_2}O$with 6.
The balanced chemical equation is shown below.
$2{C_2}{H_6} + 7{O_2} \to 4C{O_2} + 6{H_2}O$

Name of atom	Number in reactant side	Number in product side
C	4	4
H	12	12
O	14	14

Note:
The balanced chemical equation follows the law of conservation of mass. It states that mass can neither be created nor can be destroyed, it can only be transferred from one form to another.