combustion of methane

Question

CH4 + 2O2 --> CO2 + 2H2O  How many moles of CO2 are produced in this combustion of methane?

Answer 1

From CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O, confirm that there is 1 C on each side of the Reaction Arrow.

Furthermore, note the H₄ left of the arrow and the 2H₂ right of the arrow, which means that there

are 4 H's on each side of the Reaction Arrow.

With C's and H's balanced or equal on each side of the arrow, note the 2O₂ and the O₂ + 2O

to count 4 O's before and after the reaction.

Searching for Carbon Dioxide, one sees CO₂ once to right of the Reaction Arrow, which can also

be written as "1CO₂", meaning "one mole of CO₂." There are approximately 6.022 × 10²³ CO₂

molecules in one mole of Carbon Dioxide (with each molecule containing 1 Carbon atom bonded to

2 Oxygen atoms).