The following chemical equation shows the incomplete formula for burning methanol. The question mark represents the unknown number of oxygen (O2) molecules. How many molecules of O2 are needed to balance this chemical equation?
Answer is: 3 molecules of oxygen are needed to balance this chemical equation. Chemical reaction:2CH₃OH + 3O₂ → 2CO₂ + 4H₂O. Number of atoms must be the same on left and right side of chemical reaction. There are two carbons, eight hydrogens and eight oxygens on both side of chemical reaction.