How this calculator works
Conserve carbon into CO2 and hydrogen into H2O, then supply the remaining oxygen as O2. The result is scaled to the smallest whole-number coefficients. This describes complete combustion with sufficient oxygen. Fuels containing nitrogen, sulfur or halogens need additional product assumptions and are excluded.
Formula
C_a H_b O_c + (a + b/4 - c/2) O2 -> a CO2 + (b/2) H2O; multiply and reduce to integers.
Worked example
Ethane balances as 2 C2H6 + 7 O2 -> 4 CO2 + 6 H2O. Methane balances as 1 CH4 + 2 O2 -> 1 CO2 + 2 H2O.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I enter ethanol?
Yes. C2H6O includes the oxygen already present in the fuel.
Does this predict carbon monoxide?
No. Incomplete combustion and equilibrium products need a different model.
Why are some coefficients zero?
Hydrogen fuel produces no CO2; a fuel without hydrogen produces no water.