Question

Acetylene gas, \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{2},\) is used in welding because it generates an extremely hot flame when it is combusted with oxygen. The heat generated is sufficient to melt the metals being welded together. Carbon dioxide gas and water vapor are the chemical products of this reaction. Write the unbalanced chemical equation for the reaction of acetylene with oxygen.

Short answer

The unbalanced chemical equation for the reaction of acetylene with oxygen is given by: \[\mathrm{C}_{2}\mathrm{H}_{2} + \mathrm{O}_{2} \rightarrow \mathrm{CO}_{2} + \mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}\]

Step-by-step solution

Write the Symbols of the Reactants and Products

Write the symbols of the given reactants, which are Acetylene (C₂H₂) and Oxygen (O₂), and the given products, which are Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) and Water vapor (H₂O).

Write the Unbalanced Chemical Equation

Writing down the reactants and products, the unbalanced chemical equation for the reaction of acetylene with oxygen is: C₂H₂ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O

Key concepts

Combustion Reaction

A combustion reaction is a type of chemical reaction where a substance combines with oxygen, releasing energy in the form of heat and light. It is commonly referred to as burning. In the combustion of hydrocarbons, such as acetylene (an alkene with the formula \( \mathrm{C}_2 \mathrm{H}_2 \)), the carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) in the hydrocarbon react with oxygen (O) to form carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).

Combustion reactions are exothermic, which means they emit heat, and they occur in a rapid fashion, often producing a flame. This makes combustion a pivotal reaction in applications that require heat, such as welding and the internal combustion engines of vehicles. Such reactions are also essential for everyday activities, from cooking to heating buildings.

The classic example of a combustion reaction is the burning of wood in a fireplace or the burning of gasoline in a car's engine. Both processes release energy necessary for heat and to power vehicles.

Reactants and Products

In chemistry, a reactant is a substance that is consumed in the course of a chemical reaction to create products. Products, on the other hand, are the substances that result from the chemical reaction. For a successful and thorough understanding of chemical equations, it is essential to accurately identify the reactants and products involved in the reaction.

In the given exercise, acetylene (\( \mathrm{C}_2 \mathrm{H}_2 \) ) and oxygen (O2) are the reactants. When acetylene reacts with oxygen, the products formed are carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). It's crucial to note that a balanced chemical reaction has the same number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation, reflecting the Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Therefore, correctly identifying the reactants and products is the first step toward balancing a chemical equation.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction. These relationships are determined by the coefficients of the substances in the balanced chemical equation.

Stoichiometry relies on the Law of Conservation of Mass and the concept of moles. It allows chemists to predict the amounts of substances consumed and produced in a given reaction, which is critical for laboratory work and industrial processes alike. For instance, in the combustion of acetylene, stoichiometry enables us to calculate the exact amount of oxygen needed to react completely with a given amount of acetylene, as well as the amounts of carbon dioxide and water that will be produced.

Understanding stoichiometry is hugely beneficial when scaling reactions for commercial purposes, such as manufacturing pharmaceuticals or synthesizing chemicals, ensuring that the process is as efficient and cost-effective as possible.