Balancing Combustion Reactions

This video tutorial demonstrates how to balance the chemical equation for the combustion of naphthalene (C10H8) with oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide and water. The process involves counting and balancing the number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms on both sides of the equation. Key tips include leaving oxygen balancing until last and being careful with atom counting. The video concludes with a balanced equation and helpful reminders for balancing chemical reactions.

What type of reaction is C10H8 + O2 involved in?

• Combustion reaction

• Synthesis reaction

• Decomposition reaction

• Single replacement reaction

How many carbon atoms are present on the reactant side of the equation?

• 8

• 10

• 12

• 14

What is the initial imbalance in the equation before balancing?

• More oxygen atoms on the reactant side

• More oxygen atoms on the product side

• More carbon atoms on the product side

• More hydrogen atoms on the product side

What coefficient is used to balance the carbon atoms in the equation?

• 12

• 10

• 8

• 5

After balancing carbon, what is the total number of oxygen atoms needed on the product side?

• 24

• 18

• 21

• 20

What coefficient is used to balance the hydrogen atoms in the equation?

• 2

• 3

• 5

• 4

What is the final coefficient for O2 to balance the entire equation?

• 12

• 13

• 11

• 10

What should be the last element to balance in a combustion reaction?

• Nitrogen

• Hydrogen

• Oxygen

• Carbon

What common mistake do people make when counting oxygen atoms?

• Ignoring carbon atoms

• Forgetting the oxygen in water

• Miscounting the total number of molecules

• Counting extra hydrogen atoms