The reaction between ethane (C₂H₆) and oxygen gas (O₂) to produce carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O) is classified as a combustion reaction. In a combustion reaction, a hydrocarbon (in this case, ethane) reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water, usually releasing energy in the form of heat and light. The balanced equation for the complete combustion of ethane can be written as:
\[ 2 , \text{C}_2\text{H}_6 + 7 , \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 4 , \text{CO}_2 + 6 , \text{H}_2\text{O} \]
This indicates that two molecules of ethane react with seven molecules of oxygen to produce four molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water.
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