To determine the type of reaction given by the chemical equation:
[tex]\[ 2 C_4H_{10}(g) + 13 O_2(g) \rightarrow 8 CO_2(g) + 10 H_2O(g) \][/tex]
we need to analyze the reactants and products and understand the nature of their interaction.
### Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the Reactants and Products:
- Reactants: Butane (\(C_4H_{10}\)) and Oxygen (\(O_2\)).
- Products: Carbon Dioxide (\(CO_2\)) and Water (\(H_2O\)).
2. Analyze the Reactants:
- Butane (\(C_4H_{10}\)) is a hydrocarbon, which is an organic compound consisting entirely of carbon and hydrogen.
- Oxygen (\(O_2\)) is a diatomic molecule.
3. Analyze the Products:
- The products are carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)) and water (\(H_2O\)), both of which are common products of hydrocarbon combustion.
4. Identify the Type of Reaction:
- A combustion reaction primarily involves a hydrocarbon reacting with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water, often releasing heat and light in the process.
- In this equation, a hydrocarbon (\(C_4H_{10}\)) reacts with oxygen (\(O_2\)), leading to the formation of \(CO_2\) and \(H_2O\). This fits the definition of a combustion reaction.
5. Compare with Other Types of Reactions:
- Single-replacement reactions involve one element replacing another element in a compound. This is not applicable here.
- Combination reactions involve two or more substances combining to form a single new substance. Again, this does not fit as the reaction involves breaking molecules down.
- Decomposition reactions involve a single compound breaking down into two or more simpler substances, which does not match our reaction where multiple molecules react to form different products.
6. Conclusion:
- Based on the reactants being a hydrocarbon and oxygen, and the products being carbon dioxide and water, the reaction is clearly a combustion reaction.
### Final Answer:
The correct answer is A. combustion
