Glucose, also known as "blood sugar" when measured in blood, has the formula C₆H₁₂O₆.
a. Write the equation for the combustion of glucose with O₂ to give CO₂ and H₂O.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Write the general form of a combustion reaction: A hydrocarbon or carbohydrate reacts with oxygen (O₂) to produce carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O).
2. Write the unbalanced chemical equation for the combustion of glucose: $C\_6H\_\{12\}O\_6\; +\; O\_2\; \to \; CO\_2\; +\; H\_2O$.
3. Balance the carbon (C) atoms: Glucose has 6 carbon atoms, so place a coefficient of 6 in front of CO₂. The equation becomes: $C\_6H\_\{12\}O\_6\; +\; O\_2\; \to \; 6CO\_2\; +\; H\_2O$.
4. Balance the hydrogen (H) atoms: Glucose has 12 hydrogen atoms, so place a coefficient of 6 in front of H₂O. The equation becomes: $C\_6H\_\{12\}O\_6\; +\; O\_2\; \to \; 6CO\_2\; +\; 6H\_2O$.
5. Balance the oxygen (O) atoms: Count the total oxygen atoms on the product side (6CO₂ has 12 O atoms, and 6H₂O has 6 O atoms, for a total of 18 O atoms). Glucose contributes 6 O atoms, so you need 12 more O atoms from O₂. Place a coefficient of 6 in front of O₂. The balanced equation is: $C\_6H\_\{12\}O\_6\; +\; 6O\_2\; \to \; 6CO\_2\; +\; 6H\_2O$.

Key Concepts

Combustion Reaction

A combustion reaction is a chemical process in which a substance reacts rapidly with oxygen, producing heat and light. In the case of glucose, the combustion involves its reaction with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy. This type of reaction is fundamental in both biological processes, like cellular respiration, and in energy production.

Chemical Equation

A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a chemical reaction, showing the reactants and products along with their respective quantities. For the combustion of glucose, the equation illustrates how glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2) transform into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). Balancing the equation is crucial to adhere to the law of conservation of mass.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between the substances involved in a chemical reaction. It allows chemists to calculate the amounts of reactants needed and products formed. In the context of glucose combustion, stoichiometry helps in determining the correct coefficients for balancing the equation, ensuring that the number of atoms for each element is conserved.