Natural gas consists primarily of methane, CH₄(g). (a) Write balanced chemical equation for the complete combustion of methane to produce CO₂(g) as the only carbon-containing product.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the reactants and products involved in the combustion of methane. Methane (CH₄) reacts with oxygen (O₂) to produce carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O).
2. Write the unbalanced chemical equation for the combustion reaction: CH₄(g) + O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + H₂O(g).
3. Balance the carbon atoms first. Methane has one carbon atom, and it forms one molecule of carbon dioxide, so the carbon atoms are already balanced.
4. Next, balance the hydrogen atoms. Methane has four hydrogen atoms, which means you need two water molecules to balance the hydrogen atoms: CH₄(g) + O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + 2H₂O(g).
5. Finally, balance the oxygen atoms. There are two oxygen atoms in CO₂ and four in 2H₂O, totaling six oxygen atoms needed. Therefore, you need three O₂ molecules: CH₄(g) + 2O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + 2H₂O(g).

Key Concepts

Combustion Reactions

Combustion reactions are chemical processes in which a substance reacts rapidly with oxygen, producing heat and light. In the case of hydrocarbons like methane, the complete combustion results in carbon dioxide and water as products. Understanding the general form of combustion reactions is essential for writing balanced equations.

Balancing Chemical Equations

Balancing chemical equations involves ensuring that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. This is based on the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Proper balancing is crucial for accurately representing the stoichiometry of the reaction.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It allows chemists to calculate the amounts of substances consumed and produced. In the context of the combustion of methane, stoichiometry helps determine the coefficients needed to balance the equation, reflecting the proportions of reactants and products.