The balanced chemical equation for the combustion of hexane (C6H14) is:
2 C6H14 (g) + 19 O2 (g) → 12 CO2 (g) + 14 H2O (g)
This equation shows that two moles of hexane react with nineteen moles of oxygen gas to produce twelve moles of carbon dioxide and fourteen moles of water vapor. In the combustion process, hexane is oxidized, meaning it reacts with oxygen, which releases energy primarily in the form of heat. The products, carbon dioxide and water, are typical byproducts of hydrocarbon combustion.
Hexane’s relatively low boiling point makes it a volatile component of gasoline, which is important for its use as a fuel in internal combustion engines. Understanding the combustion of hexane and its reaction products is critical for evaluating its efficiency as a fuel and its environmental impact due to carbon dioxide emissions.