When ethane is burnt in excess of oxygen the oxidation number of carbon changes by?

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The oxidation number of carbon when ethane is burnt in excess of oxygen changes by +7

Answer

The Oxidation Number of Carbon in Ethane

When ethane (C2H6) is burnt in excess oxygen (O2), the oxidation number of carbon changes. To understand this change, we need to examine the structure and bonding in ethane, as well as the concept of oxidation numbers.

Structure and Bonding in Ethane

Ethane is a hydrocarbon consisting of two carbon atoms bonded together in a single bond (C-C) and six hydrogen atoms bonded to the carbon atoms (C-H). The molecule has a tetrahedral shape, with the carbon atoms at the center and the hydrogen atoms surrounding them.

In the ethane molecule, each carbon atom has four bonding pairs of electrons, which are shared with the hydrogen atoms. These bonding pairs are represented by lines in structural formulas or by dots in Lewis structures.

Oxidation Numbers

Oxidation numbers are assigned to atoms in a compound or ion to indicate the hypothetical charge that an atom would have if all the bonds in the compound were purely ionic. They are a convenient way to keep track of electron transfer in chemical reactions.

The oxidation number of an atom can be determined by a set of rules:
1. The oxidation number of an element in its elemental form is always zero.
2. The oxidation number of a monatomic ion is equal to its charge.
3. In compounds, the oxidation number of hydrogen is +1, and the oxidation number of oxygen is -2.
4. The sum of the oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is zero, and in an ion, it is equal to the charge.

Change in Oxidation Number of Carbon in Ethane Combustion

When ethane is burnt in excess oxygen, it undergoes combustion to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:

C2H6 + 7/2O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O

In the reactant side of the equation, each carbon atom in ethane has an oxidation number of 0 because it is in its elemental form. Each hydrogen atom has an oxidation number of +1, and each oxygen atom in the diatomic oxygen molecule has an oxidation number of 0.

In the product side of the equation, each carbon atom in carbon dioxide has an oxidation number of +4, and each oxygen atom has an oxidation number of -2. Each hydrogen atom in water has an oxidation number of +1, and each oxygen atom has an oxidation number of -2.

Therefore, during the combustion of ethane, the oxidation number of carbon changes from 0 to +4. This change occurs because carbon gains four electrons during the combustion process, which corresponds to a reduction in oxidation number.

In summary, when ethane is burnt in excess oxygen, the oxidation number of carbon changes from 0 to +4. This change reflects the transfer of electrons from carbon to oxygen, resulting in the formation of carbon dioxide.

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