Answer to Question #267289 in General Chemistry for Chem Student

Question

Gaseous methane CH4 will react with gaseous oxygen O2 to produce gaseous carbon dioxide CO2 and gaseous water H2O. Suppose 0.160g of methane is mixed with 0.44g of oxygen. Calculate the maximum mass of carbon dioxide that could be produced by the chemical reaction. Round your answer to 2 significant digits.

Answer 1

CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O

M(CH₄) = 16.04 g/mol

n(CH₄) $= \frac{0.160}{16.0}=0.01 \;mol$

M(O₂) = 32.0 g/mol

n(O₂) $= \frac{0.44}{32.0}=0.013 \;mol$

For each mole of CH₄ we need 2 moles of O₂, but for 0.01 mol of CH₄ we have only 0.013 mol of O₂. So, O₂ is the limiting reactant.

According to the reaction:

n(CO₂) = $\frac{1}{2}$ n(O₂) $= \frac{1}{2} \times 0.013 = 0.0065 \;mol$

M(CO₂) = 44.0 g/mol

m(CO₂) $= 44.0 \times 0.0065 = 0.286 \;g$

Answer: 0.28 g.