Below is the equation of sucrose and sulfuric acid-producing carbon, water vapor and sulfur dioxide.

C12H22O11 (s) + H2SO4 (aq) + 1/2 O2 (g) → _C (s) + CO2 (g) + 12H2O (g) + SO2 (g)

What coefficient of _C (s) would balance this equation?

11 is the coefficient for C to balance the equation

Explanation:

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ (s) + H₂SO₄ (aq) + 1/2 O₂ (g) → 11C (s) + CO₂ (g) + 12H₂O (g) + SO₂ (g)

12 Carbons in left side → 12 Carbons in right side

12 in sucrose → 11 in solid C + 1 in the CO₂

24 Hydrogens in left side → 24 Hydrogens in right side

22 in sucrose + 2 in sulfuric → 24 in water vapor

1 S in left side → 1 S in right side

1 S in sulfuric → 1 S in sulfur dioxide

16 O in left side → 16 O in right side

11 O in sucrose + 4 in sulfuric + 1 O at ground state → 2 O in carbon dioxide + 12 in water vapor + 2 in sulfur dioxide