Student in chemistry 150-02 weighed out 55.5g of octane c8h18 and allowed it to react with oxygen, o2 the product formed were carbon dioxide co2 and water h2o. Balance the equation

C8H8 + 10O2 → 8CO2 + 4H2O

Explanation:

unbalanced reaction:

C8H8 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

balanced for semireactions:

(1) 16H2O + C8H8 → 8CO2 + 40H+

(2) 10(4H+ + O2 → 2H2O)

⇒ 40H+ + 10O2 → 20H2O

(1) + (2):

balanced reaction:

⇒ C8H8 + 10O2 → 8CO2 + 4H2O

                      8 - C - 8

                     20 - O2 - 20

                      8 - H - 8