Ethane (C₂H₆) is a hydrocarbon, containing carbon and hydrogen atoms only. On complete combustion, what products are formed?

When ethane (C₂H₆) undergoes complete combustion, the products formed are carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Write down the chemical formula for the combustion of ethane: C₂H₆ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O

2. Balance the carbon atoms. There are 2 carbon atoms on the left side of the equation, so you need 2 carbon atoms on the right side: C₂H₆ + O₂ → 2CO₂ + H₂O

3. Balance the hydrogen atoms. There are 6 hydrogen atoms on the left side of the equation, so you need 6 hydrogen atoms on the right side: C₂H₆ + O₂ → 2CO₂ + 3H₂O

4. Finally, balance the oxygen atoms. There are 7 oxygen atoms on the right side of the equation, so you need 7 oxygen atoms on the left side: C₂H₆ + 7/2O₂ → 2CO₂ + 3H₂O

So, the balanced chemical equation for the complete combustion of ethane is: C₂H₆ + 7/2O₂ → 2CO₂ + 3H₂O

This means that one molecule of ethane reacts with three and a half molecules of oxygen to produce two molecules of carbon dioxide and three molecules of water.