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Question
humans extract fossil fuels and burn them for energy. when fossil fuels burn, they undergo a chemical reaction known as combustion. during a combustion reaction, a carbon - based fuel source, like the methane found in natural gas, reacts with oxygen gas (o₂) in the air to produce carbon dioxide gas (co₂) and water vapor (h₂o). this reaction releases heat energy, which humans use to power vehicle engines and to generate electricity at power plants.
coal seams in a rock face in utah
volcanic activity also releases carbon stored below earths surface into the atmosphere. when they erupt, volcanoes release lava, ash, and gases, including co₂. over earths history, volcanic activity has emitted a large amount of co₂ into the atmosphere.
however, the amount of co₂ emitted by volcanoes each year is small compared to the amount emitted by fossil fuel combustion. for example, the 1980 eruption of mount saint helens in washington state released 10 million tons of co₂ into the atmosphere over 9 hours. by comparison, human activities emit that same amount of co₂ in just 2.5 hours.
the 1980 eruption of mount saint helens
identify each substance as a reactant or product of a combustion reaction.
| reactant | product | |
|---|---|---|
| carbon dioxide | ||
| water vapor | ||
| oxygen |
Step1: Recall Combustion Reaction Details
The text states: "a carbon - based fuel source... reacts with oxygen gas ($O_2$) in the air to produce carbon dioxide gas ($CO_2$) and water vapor ($H_2O$)".
Step2: Classify Carbon - based fuel
From the reaction description, carbon - based fuel is a reactant as it participates in the reaction (reacts with oxygen).
Step3: Classify Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a product as it is produced from the reaction between carbon - based fuel and oxygen.
Step4: Classify Water vapor
Water vapor is a product as it is produced from the combustion reaction.
Step5: Classify Oxygen
Oxygen is a reactant as it reacts with the carbon - based fuel.
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- Carbon - based fuel: Reactant
- Carbon dioxide: Product
- Water vapor: Product
- Oxygen: Reactant