Combustion Reaction Calculator
Balance combustion reactions for hydrocarbons and organic compounds automatically
Enter Fuel Composition
Number of carbon atoms in the fuel
Number of hydrogen atoms in the fuel
Number of oxygen atoms in the fuel (0 for hydrocarbons)
Balanced Combustion Equation
Example: Hexane Combustion
Fuel: Hexane (C₆H₁₄)
Carbon atoms (α): 6
Hydrogen atoms (β): 14
Oxygen atoms (γ): 0 (hydrocarbon)
Balancing Steps
1. Balance carbon: b = 6
2. Balance hydrogen: c = 14/2 = 7
3. Balance oxygen: a = 6 + 14/4 - 0/2 = 9.5
4. Multiply by 2 to eliminate decimals
Final: 2C₆H₁₄ + 19O₂ → 12CO₂ + 14H₂O
Common Fuel Examples
Methane
CH₄
Natural gas
Propane
C₃H₈
Propane gas
Octane
C₈H₁₈
Gasoline component
Ethanol
C₂H₆O
Biofuel, alcohol
Methanol
CH₄O
Industrial fuel
Glucose
C₆H₁₂O₆
Biological fuel
Balancing Rules
Step 1: Carbon
Balance carbon atoms first
b = α
Step 2: Hydrogen
Balance hydrogen atoms
c = β/2
Step 3: Oxygen
Balance oxygen atoms last
a = α + β/4 - γ/2
Step 4: Whole Numbers
Multiply to eliminate fractions
General Formula
CO₂: Carbon dioxide
H₂O: Water vapor
N₂: Nitrogen (inert)
Combustion Types
Understanding Combustion Reactions
What is Combustion?
Combustion is a chemical reaction between a fuel and an oxidant (usually oxygen) that produces heat and light. In complete combustion, organic fuels are converted to carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Key Applications
- •Energy production in power plants
- •Internal combustion engines
- •Industrial heating processes
- •Rocket propulsion systems
Conservation of Mass
Combustion reactions follow Lavoisier's law of conservation of mass. The total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products, which is why balancing chemical equations is essential for accurate calculations.
Balancing Procedure
CαHβOγ + aO₂ → bCO₂ + cH₂O
General combustion equation
Balancing Steps
- 1. Identify atoms: Count α, β, and γ from molecular formula
- 2. Balance carbon: b = α (CO₂ coefficient)
- 3. Balance hydrogen: c = β/2 (H₂O coefficient)
- 4. Balance oxygen: a = α + β/4 - γ/2 (O₂ coefficient)
- 5. Eliminate fractions: Multiply all coefficients by LCM
Tip: Always balance carbon first, then hydrogen, and finally oxygen. This systematic approach ensures accurate results every time.
Types of Fuels and Applications
Hydrocarbons
Pure carbon-hydrogen compounds like methane, propane, and gasoline. Most common fuels for heating and transportation.
Oxygenated Fuels
Contain oxygen atoms in their structure. Examples include alcohols like ethanol and methanol, often used as biofuels.
Biological Fuels
Glucose and other biomolecules that provide energy through combustion in living organisms or can be used as renewable energy sources.