What is the coefficient preceding O₂ when the following combustion reaction of a fatty acid is properly balanced using the smallest set of whole numbers? __ C₁₈H₃₆O₂ + __ O₂ $\rarr$ __ CO₂ + __ H₂O A)1 B)8 C)9 D)26 E)27

Question

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To balance the reaction, we need to count the number of atoms on each side of the equation. For carbon, there are 118 atoms on the left side (in the fatty acid) and 1 on the right side (in CO). To balance this, we need to put a coefficient of 118 in front of CO. This also balances the oxygen, as there are 12 oxygen atoms in both the fatty acid and CO. Next, we balance the hydrogen by putting a coefficient of 237 in front of water (which has 2 hydrogen atoms per molecule). Now the equation is: 118 C18H13O2 + 237 O2 -> 118 CO2 + 118 H2O Finally, we balance the oxygen again by putting a coefficient of 59 in front of O2, giving us the balanced equation: 118 C18H13O2 + 177 O2 -> 118 CO2 + 118 H2O. Therefore, the coefficient preceding O₂ is 26, which means the answer is D.

What Is the Coefficient Preceding O2 When the Following Combustion →\rarr→

What Is the Coefficient Preceding O₂ When the Following Combustion $\rarr$