The following diagram represents a high-temperature reaction between CH4 and H2O. Based on this reaction, find how many moles of each product can be obtained starting with 4.0 mol CH4.
Based on this reaction, find how many moles of CO can be obtained starting with 4.0 mol CH4?

Verified step by step guidance

1. <Identify the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between CH4 and H2O. The reaction is typically: CH4 + H2O -> CO + 3H2.>
2. <Determine the mole ratio between CH4 and CO from the balanced equation. In this case, the ratio is 1:1.>
3. <Use the mole ratio to calculate the moles of CO produced. Since the ratio is 1:1, the moles of CH4 will equal the moles of CO.>
4. <Start with the given amount of CH4, which is 4.0 mol.>
5. <Apply the mole ratio to find the moles of CO: 4.0 mol CH4 * (1 mol CO / 1 mol CH4) = 4.0 mol CO.>

Key Concepts

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It allows us to calculate the amount of products formed or reactants consumed based on balanced chemical equations. Understanding stoichiometry is essential for determining how many moles of products can be produced from a given amount of reactants.

Balanced Chemical Equation

A balanced chemical equation represents a chemical reaction with equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the equation. It is crucial to balance the equation before performing stoichiometric calculations, as it provides the mole ratios needed to relate reactants to products. For the reaction between CH4 and H2O, knowing the balanced equation will help determine the moles of CO produced from the initial moles of CH4.

Mole Concept

The mole concept is a fundamental principle in chemistry that defines the amount of substance. One mole corresponds to 6.022 x 10^23 entities (atoms, molecules, etc.). This concept is vital for converting between grams and moles, as well as for understanding the quantities of reactants and products in a reaction, enabling accurate calculations of how many moles of CO can be produced from 4.0 moles of CH4.