Given the equation, #CH_4 + 2O_2->2H_2O + CO_2#, what is the total number of moles of oxygen that must react to produce 5 moles of carbon dioxide?

1 Answer
Jan 11, 2016

Well, 1 mol methane give 1 mol of carbon dioxide upon complete combustion. You want 5 mole carbon dioxide.

Explanation:

You must observe the stoichiometry of the reaction. A mole of methane produces a mole of carbon dioxide. If 5 mole of carbon dioxide are specified, I need how many moles of methane in order to satisfy this stoichiometry? If 5 mole of carbon dioxide were collected, how many moles of oxygen gas (i.e. #O_2#) were necessary?