Question H21 (6th Edition)

[Leela_Mohan3L]

Question: The psychoactive drug methamphetamine which is sold as the prescription medication Desoxyn C10H15N, undergoes a series of reactions in the body; the net result of these reactions is the oxidation of solid methamphetamine by oxygen gas to produce carbon dioxide gas, liquid water, and an aqueous solution of urea, CH4N2O. Write the balanced equation for this net reaction.

I can't seem to balance this equation. If someone could clarify the steps needed to solve this problem I'd appreciate it!

[Henri_de_Guzman_3L]

For the unbalanced equation we have:

C10H15N + O2 --> CO2 + H2O + CH4N20

I started with balancing N first:
2C10H15N + O2 --> CO2 + H2O + CH4N20

Then H:
2C10H15N + O2 --> CO2 + 13H2O + CH4N20

Then C:
2C10H15N + O2 --> 19CO2 + 13H2O + CH4N20

Finally O:
2C10H15N + 26O2 --> 19CO2 + 13H2O + CH4N20

[Francis_Nguyen3D]

(1) : Balance N first because it appears the less within the equation.

2C10H15N + O2 --> CO2 + H2O + CH4N2O

(2): Balance H, there are 30 H on the left side and a total of 6 H on the right, leaving the (4 H) alone, that would be 30-4= 26/2= 13 as your coefficient for H2O

2C10H15N + O2 --> CO2 + 13H2O + CH4N2O

(3): Balance C, there are 20 C on the left side and on the right there is a total of 2 C, if we leave CH4N2O alone then 20-1=19 (1 coming from the one carbon)-- as your coefficient for CO2

2C10H15N + O2 --> 19CO2 + 13H2O + CH4N2O

(4): Balance O which appears the most, there are only 2 on the left side and 38+13+1= 52 O on the right side 52/2=26 as your coefficient for O2

2C10H15N + 26O2 --> 19CO2 + 13H2O + CH4N2O