When ethanol (C2H6O (aq)) is consumed, it reacts with oxygen gas (O2) in the body to produce gaseous carbon dioxide and liquid water. Enter the balanced chemical equation for the reaction

C₂H₆O + 3 O₂ → 2 CO₂ + 3 H₂O

Explanation:

Ethanol (C₂H₆O) is processed by the body when reacts with oxygen (O₂) producing carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). The unbalanced reaction is:

C₂H₆O + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O

As you can see, ethanol contains 2 atoms of carbon, that means must be produced 2 CO₂:

C₂H₆O + O₂ → 2 CO₂ + H₂O

Also, ethanol contains 6 atoms of hydrogen that produced 3 molecules of water:

C₂H₆O + O₂ → 2 CO₂ + 3 H₂O

Now, with carbon and hydrogen balanced, there are produced 7 atoms of oxygen. As ethanol contains 1 atom of oxygen. 3 moles of O₂ must react in the beginning. Thus, balanced reaction is:

C₂H₆O + 3 O₂ → 2 CO₂ + 3 H₂O

C2H6O (aq) + 3O2 (g) → 2CO2 (g) + 3H2O (l)

Explanation:

Step 1: data given

The reactants are:

ethanol = C2H6O (aq)

oxygen gas = O2 (g)

The products are:

gaseous carbon dioxide = CO2 (g)

liquid water = H2O (l)

Step 2: The unbalanced equation

C2H6O (aq) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

Step 3: Balancing the equation

C2H6O (aq) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

On the left side we have 2 time C (in C2H6O), on the right side we have 1x C (in CO2). To balance the amount of C on both sides, we have to multiply CO2 on the right side by 2.

C2H6O (aq) + O2 (g) → 2CO2 (g) + H2O (l)

On the left side we have 6x H (in C2H6O), on the right side we have 2x H (in H2O). To balance the amount of H on both sides, we have to multiply H2O on the right side by 3.

C2H6O (aq) + O2 (g) → 2CO2 (g) + 3H2O (l)

On the right side we have 7x O (4x O in 2CO2 and 3x O in 3H2O), on the left side we have 3x O (1x in C2H6O and 2x in O2). To balance the amount of O on both sides, we have to multiply O2 on the left side by 3. Now the equation is balanced.

C2H6O (aq) + 3O2 (g) → 2CO2 (g) + 3H2O (l)