Question

What are the two products from the complete combustion of benzene?

Short answer

The two products are carbon dioxide (\( CO_2 \)) and water (\( H_2O \)).

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Combustion Reaction

Complete combustion involves burning a hydrocarbon in the presence of oxygen. For benzene, the hydrocarbon has the formula \( C_6H_6 \). The products of complete combustion are carbon dioxide \( CO_2 \) and water \( H_2O \).

Write the Balanced Equation

In complete combustion, all of the benzene will react with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water. The balanced equation for the combustion of benzene is: \[ 2C_6H_6 + 15O_2 \rightarrow 12CO_2 + 6H_2O \]. Here, 2 molecules of benzene react with 15 molecules of oxygen to produce 12 molecules of carbon dioxide and 6 molecules of water.

Identify the Products

From the balanced equation, we can clearly identify that the two products of the complete combustion of benzene are carbon dioxide \( CO_2 \) and water \( H_2O \).

Key concepts

Benzene Combustion

The process of benzene combustion is a type of chemical reaction where benzene, a hydrocarbon, reacts with oxygen to produce certain products. This particular type of reaction is known as a combustion reaction, and it typically involves the burning of hydrocarbons in the presence of oxygen. Benzene has the chemical formula \( C_6H_6 \). When it undergoes complete combustion, it reacts with oxygen \( O_2 \) to yield two primary products: carbon dioxide \( CO_2 \) and water \( H_2O \). Here's how it works:- Benzene molecules interact with oxygen molecules.- The chemical bonds in benzene and oxygen break.- New bonds form, resulting in carbon dioxide and water molecules.This is a classic example of a combustion reaction, which is an exothermic reaction, meaning it releases energy in the form of heat and light.

Balanced Chemical Equations

Writing balanced chemical equations is crucial for understanding chemical reactions. It involves ensuring that the number of each type of atom on the reactants side equals the number on the products side. For the combustion of benzene, the reactants \( 2C_6H_6 \) and \( 15O_2 \) transform into \( 12CO_2 \) and \( 6H_2O \).Let's break it down:

• On the left side, there are 12 carbon atoms (2 × 6 from benzene) and 6 hydrogen atoms (2 × 3 from benzene), alongside 30 oxygen atoms (15 × 2 from oxygen molecules).
• On the right side, these equal to 12 carbon atoms (12 from carbon dioxide), 6 hydrogen atoms (6 from water), and 30 oxygen atoms (24 from carbon dioxide and 6 from water).

The equation \( 2C_6H_6 + 15O_2 \rightarrow 12CO_2 + 6H_2O \) is balanced because it maintains conservation of mass, adhering to the principle that atoms are neither created nor destroyed in chemical reactions.

Carbon Dioxide and Water

In the complete combustion of benzene, the two significant products are carbon dioxide and water. These products are commonly found in various combustion reactions of hydrocarbons.Carbon dioxide \( CO_2 \):

• Comprises one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.
• Produced in large quantities during the combustion of organic material.
• Considered a greenhouse gas, contributing to climate change when excessively released.

Water \( H_2O \):

• Consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
• Occurs in all combustion processes where hydrogen is present in the reactants.
• Essential for life, providing a habitat and living necessity for many organisms.

Both carbon dioxide and water play crucial roles in the Earth's life cycle and energy balance, illustrated in these combustion products.