Which of the following is the correctly balanced chemical equation for the combustion of glucose (C6H12O6)?

• A. C6H12O6 + 6 O2 -> 6 CO2 + 6 H2O
• B. C6H12O6 + 6 O2 -> 12 CO2 + 6 H2O
• C. C6H12O6 + 12 O2 -> 6 CO2 + 12 H2O
• D. C6H12O6 + 6 O2 -> 6 CO + 6 H2O

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Write the unbalanced chemical equation for the combustion of glucose: \(\mathrm{C_6H_{12}O_6 + O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2O}\).
2. Balance the carbon atoms first. Since glucose has 6 carbon atoms, place a coefficient of 6 in front of \(\mathrm{CO_2}\): \(\mathrm{C_6H_{12}O_6 + O_2 \rightarrow 6 CO_2 + H_2O}\).
3. Balance the hydrogen atoms next. Glucose has 12 hydrogen atoms, so place a coefficient of 6 in front of \(\mathrm{H_2O}\) (because each water molecule has 2 hydrogens): \(\mathrm{C_6H_{12}O_6 + O_2 \rightarrow 6 CO_2 + 6 H_2O}\).
4. Balance the oxygen atoms last. On the right side, there are \$6 \times 2 = 12\( oxygens from \)\mathrm{CO_2}\( and \)6 \times 1 = 6\( oxygens from \)\mathrm{H_2O}\(, totaling 18 oxygen atoms. On the left, glucose provides 6 oxygens, so the remaining oxygen atoms must come from \)\mathrm{O_2}\(. Set up the equation: \)6 + 2x = 18\(, where \)x\( is the coefficient for \)\mathrm{O_2}$.
5. Solve for \(x\) to find the coefficient for \(\mathrm{O_2}\), which balances the oxygen atoms. This will give the balanced equation: \(\mathrm{C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6 O_2 \rightarrow 6 CO_2 + 6 H_2O}\).