The balanced equation for solid carbon combustion in the presence of oxygen can be represented as:
C(s) + O₂(g) → CO₂(g)
In this equation, C(s) stands for solid carbon, while O₂(g) represents oxygen in its gaseous state. The product of this reaction is carbon dioxide, CO₂(g).
When balancing chemical equations, it’s important to have the same number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation. In this case, one carbon atom from the left reacts with two oxygen atoms to produce one molecule of carbon dioxide. This balance reflects the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.