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Ch.18 - Chemistry of the Environment
All textbooksBrown 14th EditionCh.18 - Chemistry of the EnvironmentProblem 69a
Chapter 18, Problem 69a

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.

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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).
Write the unbalanced chemical equation for the combustion reaction: CH₄(g) + O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + H₂O(g).
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.
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).
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).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

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.
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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.
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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.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

(a) What is the difference between a CFC and an HFC?

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Textbook Question

Natural gas consists primarily of methane, CH4(g). (b) Write a balanced chemical equation for the incomplete combustion of methane to product CO(g) as the only carbon-containg product.

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Textbook Question

One of the possible consequences of climate change is an increase in the temperature of ocean water. The oceans serve as a 'sink' for CO2 by dissolving large amounts of it.

(a) The figure below shows the solubility of CO2 in water as a function of temperature. Does CO2 behave more or less similarly to other gases in this respect?

Textbook Question

The rate of solar energy striking Earth averages 168 watts per square meter. The rate of energy radiated from Earth's surface averages 390 watts per square meter. Comparing these numbers, one might expect that the planet would cool quickly, yet it does not. Why not?

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