Question

The balanced equation below shows the products that are formed when pentane (C5H12) is combusted.

C5H12 + 8O2 mc029-1.jpg 10CO2 + 6H2O

What is the mole ratio of oxygen to pentane?

Answer 1

The answer to your question would be 8:1. 

Answer 2

A chemical equation is said to be balanced chemical equation if it has equal number of all the constituent atoms on both side of the reaction arrow.

The balanced chemical reaction for combustion of pentane is as follows:

`C_(5)H_(12) + 8O_(2)\rightarrow 5CO_(2) + 6H_(2)O`

From the above balanced chemical equation it is clear that 1 mol of
`C_(5)H_(12)` reacts with 8 moles of
`O_(2)` to form 5 mole of
`CO_(2)`.

Therefore, the mole ratio of oxygen to pentane is 8:1 here.