What is the stoichiometric coefficient for oxygen when the following equation is balanced using the lowest whole-number coefficients? C3H6O2(l) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(l)A) 5 B) 7 C) 1 D) 3

Option (B) 7

Explanation:

C3H6O2(l) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(l)

To know the coefficient of O2 in the above equation, let us balance the equation.

The above equation can be balance as follow:

C3H6O2(l) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(l)

There are 3 atoms of C on the left side and 1 atom on the right side. It can be balance by putting 3 in front of CO2 as shown below:

C3H6O2(l) + O2(g) → 3CO2(g) + H2O(l)

There are 6 atoms of H on the left side and 2 atoms on the right side. It can be balance by putting 3 in front of H2O as shown below:

C3H6O2(l) + O2(g) → 3CO2(g) + 3H2O(l)

There are a total of 4 atoms of O on the left side and a total of 9 atoms on the right side. It can be balance by putting 7/2 in front of O2 as show below:

C3H6O2(l) + 7/2O2(g) → 3CO2(g) + 3H2O(l)

Multiply through by 2

2C3H6O2(l) + 7O2(g) → 6CO2(g) + 6H2O(l)

Now, the equation is balanced.

From the balanced equation above, the coefficient of O2 is 7.