What pattern do you observe in the coefficients of the hydrocarbon (CxHy) and water (H2O)? How do you explain this pattern?

The coefficients of the hydrocarbon and water is 61 and it is explained below.

Explanation:

We have to  balance the chemical equation that describes the combustion of octane C₈H₁₈. The combustion of octane involves burning this hydrocarbon in the presence of excess oxygen,O 2.  Because octane is a hydrocarbon, that is the compound that contains only carbon and hydrogen, the reaction will produce two products carbon dioxide CO 2 and water H 2 O.

The unbalanced chemical equation is

C₈H₁₈ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O

To balance this equation, we have 8 present on the reactant side, so multiply the carbon dioxide by  8  to get  8  atoms of carbon on the products side.

C₈H₁₈ + O₂ → 8 CO₂ + H₂O

Now, we have 18  on the reactant side and  2  on the products side, so multiply the water molecule by  9  to get

C₈H₁₈ + O₂ → 8 CO₂ + 9 H₂O

8 * 2 atoms O + 9 *1 atoms O = 25 atoms O

By adding fractional coefficient to O₂ we get

C₈H₁₈ + O₂ → 8 CO₂ + 9 H₂O

Multiply all the coefficients by 2 we get,

2C₈H₁₈ + ( * 2) O₂ → 8 * 2 CO₂ + 9* 2 H₂O

The balance equation is

2C₈H₁₈ + 25 O₂ → 16 CO₂ + 18 H₂O

Add the coefficients to get their sum

= 2 +25 + 16 +18 = 61

Thus, The coefficients of the hydrocarbon and water is 61