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When You Have Finished Balancing The Equation, Which Chemical Or Element Will Have The Largest Number Of Molecules In The Balanced Equation?

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Oddman answered
You can look at either the Carbon or the Hydrogen first, as they end up in different reaction products. The 3 atoms of Carbon will limit the amount of CO2 produced, and the 8 atoms of Hydrogen will limit the amount of water (H2O) produced. The CO2 will require 2 atoms of Oxygen for each Carbon atom, and the H2O will require one atom of Oxygen for each 2 atoms of Hydrogen. Thus, a total of 3(2)+8(1/2) = 6+4 = 10 atoms of Oxygen are required. 10 atoms of Oxygen will generally be found as 5 molecules of O2.

The reaction seems to be this one:
C3H8 + 5O2 --> 3CO2 + 4H2O

Oxygen has the largest number of molecules in the balanced equation.

(See also this answer.)

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