Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello! I need help with organic chemistry..

My chemistry teacher at our school did not know organic chemistry very well and suggested Science Buddies AAA!
I am doing an experiment on bioremediation.

OK so here is what I am trying to do:

I have three electron acceptors. Calcium chlorate, calcium sulfate, and calcium phosphate.

Each of them is going to react with C22H46, which is a hydrocarbon.

It produces CO2, H2O, and waste product.

Finding the waste product is the trickiest part. Calcium chlorate does not just become CaCl2. We tried it and it can’t be balanced. This means that the waste product is an ion. Cl-, ClO2-, CLO- OR it can be a combination!

We were looking at oxidation numbers… but we couldn’t figure it out.
My teacher said this problem would be a piece of cake for an organic chemist…

Can someone help me??? I am trying to make an equation and balance it…. How do I do it?

Thank you so much!!

Hi,

Did you also post your question on the Physical Science forum? That forum has chemists among the experts and they would be better able to help you write balanced equations for the reactions.

What sort of hydrocarbon is C22H46?? The only one i know is docosane and that is insoluble in water so would not react with chlorate or the other anions (http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compoun ... ection=Top).

If you could explain a little about what your bioremediation involves, we might be able to help you better. I assume you are using some plant, fungus or bacteria to clean up hydrocarbon pollution but I don't understand where the calcium salts fit into the scheme.

Post again and we'll try to help.

Sybee