Combustion is a chemical process where a substance reacts with oxygen to produce heat and usually light. The combustion of hydrocarbons, like ethane ([tex]\(C_2H_6\)[/tex]), typically produces carbon dioxide ([tex]\(CO_2\)[/tex]) and water ([tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]) if the combustion is complete.
Let's analyze the combustion equation for ethane:
[tex]\[ 2C_2H_6 + 7O_2 \rightarrow 4CO_2 + 6H_2O \][/tex]
To understand this equation, let's walk through the reaction step-by-step:
1. Reactants:
- Ethane ([tex]\(C_2H_6\)[/tex]) is a hydrocarbon.
- Oxygen ([tex]\(O_2\)[/tex]) is the oxidizing agent required for combustion.
2. Balancing the Combustion Equation:
- For every 2 molecules of ethane ([tex]\(C_2H_6\)[/tex]), 7 molecules of oxygen ([tex]\(O_2\)[/tex]) are required.
- The products formed are 4 molecules of carbon dioxide ([tex]\(CO_2\)[/tex]) and 6 molecules of water ([tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]).
3. Products:
- The carbon atoms in ethane ([tex]\(C_2H_6\)[/tex]) react with oxygen to form carbon dioxide ([tex]\(CO_2\)[/tex]).
- The hydrogen atoms in ethane ([tex]\(C_2H_6\)[/tex]) combine with oxygen to form water ([tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]).
Therefore, the products formed when ethane undergoes combustion are water ([tex]\(H_2O\)[/tex]) and carbon dioxide ([tex]\(CO_2\)[/tex]).
Hence, the correct answer is:
[tex]\[ \boxed{C} \ H_2O\ \text{and} \ CO_2 \][/tex]
