Question

select the correct answer.
methane burns in oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. which of the following represents a preliminary unbalanced equation for this correct chemical formulas?
a. ch₄ + o₂ → co₂ + h₂o
b. ch₄ + co₂ → o₂ + h₂o
c. co₂ + h₂o → ch₄ + o₂
d. ch₄ → o₂ + co₂ + h₂o

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the reactants and products

Methane (\(CH_4\)) is a reactant, oxygen (\(O_2\)) is a reactant. Carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)) and water (\(H_2O\)) are products.

Step2: Check each option

• Option A: \(CH_4+O_2

ightarrow CO_2 + H_2O\) has the correct reactants (\(CH_4\) and \(O_2\)) and products (\(CO_2\) and \(H_2O\)) although it is unbalanced.

• Option B: \(CH_4+CO_2

ightarrow O_2 + H_2O\) has incorrect reactants (\(CO_2\) is not a reactant in the combustion of \(CH_4\) in oxygen).

• Option C: \(CO_2+H_2O

ightarrow CH_4+O_2\) has incorrect reactants (products of combustion are shown as reactants).

• Option D: \(CH_4

ightarrow O_2+CO_2 + H_2O\) has incorrect reactants (\(O_2\) is a reactant not a product in the combustion reaction of \(CH_4\)).

Answer:

A. \(CH_4 + O_2
ightarrow CO_2+H_2O\)