QUESTION IMAGE
Question
which of the following is the correct chemical equation for the combustion of methane (ch₄)?
a co₂ + 2h₂o → ch₄ + 2o₂
b ch₄ + 2o₂ → co₂ + 2h₂o
c co₂ + h₂o → ch₄ + o₂
d ch₄ + o₂ → co₂ + h₂o
Brief Explanations
Combustion reactions involve a substance reacting with oxygen. For methane (\(CH_4\)), during combustion, it reacts with \(O_2\) to produce \(CO_2\) and \(H_2O\). We need to check the balance of atoms.
- In option a: The direction is wrong (products and reactants are reversed).
- In option b:
- Carbon (\(C\)): 1 atom on both sides (\(1\) in \(CH_4\) and \(1\) in \(CO_2\)).
- Hydrogen (\(H\)): \(4\) atoms in \(CH_4\) (\(2\times2 = 4\) in \(2H_2O\)).
- Oxygen (\(O\)): \(2\times2=4\) atoms in \(2O_2\) (\(2\) in \(CO_2\) and \(2\times1 = 2\) in \(2H_2O\), total \(2 + 2=4\)).
- In option c: The direction is wrong (products and reactants are reversed).
- In option d:
- Oxygen (\(O\)): \(2\) atoms in \(O_2\) (\(2\) in \(CO_2\) and \(1\) in \(H_2O\), total \(2+1 = 3\)) is not balanced.
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B. \(CH_4 + 2O_2
ightarrow CO_2 + 2H_2O\)