Understanding the Complete Combustion of Cyclopentane

The complete combustion of cyclopentane (C5H10) is a fundamental process in chemistry, especially in the context of hydrocarbon fuels. The primary goal of this combustion is to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). In this article, we explore the balanced chemical equation for the complete combustion of cyclopentane and discuss its key components.

Step-by-Step Derivation of the Balanced Equation

To derive the balanced equation for the complete combustion of cyclopentane, we need to ensure that the number of atoms for each element is conserved. The general approach involves the following steps:

Carbon Balance: The number of carbon atoms in the products (CO2) must equal the number of carbon atoms in the reactants (cyclopentane).

Therefore, C5H10 O2 → 5CO2

Hydrogen Balance: The number of hydrogen atoms in the products (H2O) must equal the number of hydrogen atoms in the reactants (cyclopentane).

Therefore, C5H10 O2 → 5CO2 5H2O

Oxygen Balance: The total number of oxygen atoms in the reactants (O2) must equal the total number of oxygen atoms in the products (5CO2 5H2O).

5CO2 requires 10 oxygen atoms from CO2, and 5H2O requires 5 oxygen atoms from H2O, totaling 15 oxygen atoms. Therefore, we need (frac{15}{2})O2

Combining these steps, we get the following balanced equation for the complete combustion of cyclopentane:

(mathrm{C_5H_{10} frac{15}{2}O_2 rightarrow 5CO_2 5H_2O})

To simplify the equation for integral coefficients, we can multiply the entire equation by 2:

(mathrm{2C_5H_{10} 15O_2 rightarrow 10CO_2 10H_2O})

General Equation for Complete Combustion of Fuels

For a more general understanding of complete combustion, we can use the following equation:

(mathrm{C_{alpha}H_{beta} left(alpha frac{beta}{4}right)O_2 3.76N_2 rightarrow alpha CO_2 frac{beta}{2}H_2O 3.76alpha N_2})

In the case of cyclopentane (C6H12), we can substitute the values of α and β:

(mathrm{C_6H_{12} left(6 3right)O_2 3.76N_2 rightarrow 6CO_2 6H_2O 3.76 times 9N_2})

Important Considerations

When discussing the complete combustion of cyclopentane, it's important to note the enthalpy term Δ (delta), which represents the heat of combustion. Given the data, this term can be included for a more detailed thermodynamic analysis.

Additionally, in a standard atmosphere, the percentage of nitrogen (N2) is considered to be 3.76, which is accounted for in the equation.

In conclusion, the balanced equation for the complete combustion of cyclopentane not only satisfies the law of conservation of mass but also provides a clear understanding of the chemical process involved.