Give the stoichiometric coefficient for oxygen when the following equation is balanced using the lowest, whole-number coefficients: ___CH4O(l) ___O2(g) -> ___CO2(g) H2O(l)

Explanation:

Let consider that one mole of diatomic oxygen is used. So, the stoichometric can be modelled by using three variables:

Where are the required variables.

Now, three equations are constructed from the number of elements involved (Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen):

Carbon

Oxygen

Hydrogen

The coefficients can be found by solving the abovementioned 3 x 3 Linear System:

The whole-number coefficients are determined by multiplying every coefficient by 3, then: