Chapter 9, Problem 84A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

A balanced chemical equation for the combustion of liquid methanol needs to be determined.

Concept introduction:

In a chemical reaction, the reactants are written on the left side of the equation and the product is written on the right side. The product and the reactants contain an arrow between them showing the proceeding of the reaction from the reactants to the products.

A chemical equation is balanced by balancing the number of moles of each element on the reactants and on the products.

Answer to Problem 84A

A balanced chemical equation for the combustion of liquid methanol is,

${\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}\text{OH}\text{+}1.5{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\to {\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}\text{+}{\text{2H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$

Explanation of Solution

The skeletal equation for the combustion of liquid methanol is,

${\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}\text{OH}\text{+}{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\to {\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}\text{+}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$

And, the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of liquid methanol is,

${\text{CH}}_{\text{3}}\text{OH}\text{+}1.5{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\to {\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}\text{+}{\text{2H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$

Or,

${\text{2CH}}_{\text{3}}\text{OH}\text{+}3{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\to 2{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}\text{+}{\text{4H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$

Conclusion

Thus, ${\text{2CH}}_{\text{3}}\text{OH}\text{+}3{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\to 2{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}\text{+}{\text{4H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$ is the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of liquid methanol.