What are the correct coefficients to balance the chemical equation: C4H10S(l) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(g) + SO2(g)?

• A. 2 C4H10S + 10 O2 → 4 CO2 + 10 H2O + 2 SO2
• B. 1 C4H10S + 5 O2 → 4 CO2 + 5 H2O + 1 SO2
• C. 1 C4H10S + 8 O2 → 4 CO2 + 5 H2O + 1 SO2
• D. 2 C4H10S + 15 O2 → 8 CO2 + 10 H2O + 2 SO2

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Start by identifying the number of atoms of each element in the reactants and products. The elements involved are carbon (C), hydrogen (H), sulfur (S), and oxygen (O).
2. Write the unbalanced equation: C4H10S + O2 → CO2 + H2O + SO2. Count the atoms for each element: C4H10S has 4 C, 10 H, and 1 S; O2 has 2 O.
3. Balance the carbon atoms first. Since there are 4 carbon atoms in C4H10S, you need 4 CO2 molecules to balance the carbon: C4H10S + O2 → 4 CO2 + H2O + SO2.
4. Next, balance the hydrogen atoms. There are 10 hydrogen atoms in C4H10S, so you need 5 H2O molecules to balance the hydrogen: C4H10S + O2 → 4 CO2 + 5 H2O + SO2.
5. Finally, balance the sulfur and oxygen atoms. There is 1 sulfur atom in C4H10S, so you need 1 SO2 molecule. Count the total oxygen atoms needed: 4 CO2 requires 8 O, 5 H2O requires 5 O, and 1 SO2 requires 2 O, totaling 15 O atoms. Therefore, you need 15/2 O2 molecules, which means multiplying the entire equation by 2 to get whole numbers: 2 C4H10S + 15 O2 → 8 CO2 + 10 H2O + 2 SO2.