Carbon dioxide and water are produced when pentane (C5H12) reacts with oxygen. What is the balanced equation for this reaction?

Balance carbon first: the 5 carbon atoms in C5H12 require 5CO2. Balance hydrogen next: 12 hydrogen atoms require 6H2O. Those products contain 16 oxygen atoms total, so the reactants need 8O2. Thus the balanced equation is C5H12(g) + 8O2(g) → 5CO2(g) + 6H2O(g), choice C.

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