Thread: How to form a chemical equation for the reaction of hydrocarbon and oxygen?

Do I need to use the empirical formula of hydrocarbon,CH2 or the molecular formula C5H10 or either one will do??

Given enough oxygen, hydrocarbons will completely combust to release water and carbon dioxide as products:

Example: C2H4 + 3O2 ------> 2H2O + 2CO2

The reaction is called combustion.

you need the molecular formula

the equation goes as follows:

C5H10 + 7.5O2 ----> 5CO2 + 5H2O (x2)

2C5H10 + 15O2 ---> 10CO2 + 10H2O

When hydrocarbons burn in excess O2 - blue flame
else yellow flame and carbon monoxide (CO) is formed