Gaseous methane

Question

CH4
will react with gaseous oxygen
O2
to produce gaseous carbon dioxide
CO2
and gaseous water
H2O
. Suppose 0.481 g of methane is mixed with 2.9 g of oxygen. Calculate the maximum mass of carbon dioxide that could be produced by the chemical reaction. Be sure your answer has the correct number of significant digits.

Answer 1

You do the math and s.f.
This is a limiting reagent (LR) problem. You know that because amounts are given for BOTH of the reactants.

1.Write and balance the equation.
CH4 + 2O2 ==> CO2 + 2H2O

2a. mols CH4 = grams/molar mass = ?
2b. mols O2 = grams/molar mass = ?

3a.
Using the coefficients in the balanced equation, convert mols CH4 in 2a to mols CO2.

3b. Do the same and convert mols O2 in step 2b to mols CO2

3c. It is likely the two values in 3a and 3b will not agree which means one of them is not right.

3d. The correct answer in LR problems is ALWAYS the smaller value and the reagent producing that value is the LR.

4. Now convert the smaller value into grams CO2. g = mols x molar mass
Print this up. Use it for all of your LR problems.

Answer 2

454