ETS Major Field Test Chemistry Practice Test

The combustion of glucose is a reaction in which glucose (C6H12O6) reacts with oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) while releasing energy. The correct equation shows this process in a balanced form, representing the complete combustion of one molecule of glucose. In the reaction, one molecule of glucose combines with six molecules of oxygen. The products formed are six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water. This equation is balanced in terms of both mass and charge, adhering to the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Each atom in the reactants corresponds to an atom in the products, ensuring that the number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms is the same on both sides of the equation. This balanced equation accurately depicts the stoichiometry involved in glucose combustion, highlighting that glucose produces a significant amount of CO2 and H2O, which is characteristic of complete combustion reactions involving carbohydrates.