What is the balanced chemical equation of incomplete combustion of alcohol?

Simple equation to proof an alcohol mixture?

• I'm trying to figure out how to proof an alcohol mixture. I've got 4 different types or liquor with 3 different ABV's, and 3 are at 750ml with the fourth being 1500ml. I found one equation on here already, but I'm not following it very well-- "Consider the following: You're making Apple Pie, combining four cups of straight apple juice, one cup of 80-proof vodka, and one cup of 190-proof grain alcohol. Add up how much alcohol and inert (non-alcoholic) fluid you've got. For the vodka, you've got 80/200 alcohol. The fraction simplifies down to 2/5... so one cup of vodka contains 2/5*1cup pure alcohol and 3/5*1cup inert fluids. If we had two cups of vodka, we'd have 2/5*2cups (4/5cup) alcohol and 3.5*2cups (6/5 or 1&1/5 cup) inert fluid. For the grain alcohol, your ratio is 95/200, which means each cup contains 19/20 alcohol and 1/20 inert fluid. Two cups would be 38/20 (1&18/20 -> 1&9/10) cups alcohol and 2/20 (1/10) cup inert fluid. To overstate the obvious, straight apple juice is 0/200 alcohol and 200/200 inert fluid. So four cups of that makes 0 cups alcohol and 4 cups inert fluid. I just find it's good to keep that in mind. Addition of the fluids: Alcohol - 2/5 + 19/20 + 0 -> 8/20 + 19/20 = 27/20 cups alcohol Inert - 3/5 + 1/20 + 4 -> 12/20 + 1/20 + 80/20 -> 93/20 cups inert Total - 27/20 + 93/20 = 120/20 -> 6 cups total To make a proof: Get out yer calculator (or do it by hand if you wish). 27/20 = 1.35 and 93/20 = 4.65. Divide the amount of alcohol (1.35) by the total amount of fluid (6) and you find out that our booze is 22.5% alcohol. Multiply that by two and that's the proof: 45. If we add another cup of grain alcohol to the mix, it goes as follows: Alcohol - 2/5 + 38/20 + 0 -> 8/20 + 38/20 = 46/20 Inert - 3/5 + 2/20 + 4 -> 12/20 + 2/20 + 80/20 = 94/20 Total - 46/20 + 94/20 = 140/20 -> 7 cups So divide the alcohol by the total: 46/20 = 2.3, so take 2.3/7 and you get 0.328 and on and on and on. So call it 32.8%; 65.6 proof. *You don't need to add up the amount of inert ingredients; all you need to know to find the proof is the amount of actual alcohol in the mixture and the total amount of fluid. I put the whole thing on the table to help the demonstration make more sense. I hope it worked." I'm not sure where he got some of his numbers from. And anyone simplify this down for me? Math isn't my strong suit, unfortunately.

• Answer:

  Aw, mate.........proof is simply the ABV doubled. No need for the mind-crushing mathematics at all.....lol!