Write a balanced equation for the combustion of methanol.
CH₂OH(1) +30₂(9) CO₂(9) + 3H2O(9)
CHOH(7) + O2(g)CO2(g)+2H₂O(g)
CH₂OH(1)+20₂(g) → 2CO2(g) + 4H2O(9)
2CH₂OH(J)+302(9)2002(g) + 4H2O(g)
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The balanced equation for the combustion of methanol (CH₃OH) is:
2 CH₃OH(l) + 3 O₂(g) → 2 CO₂(g) + 4 H₂O(g)
Explanation:
The process of combustion involves a fuel reacting with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water, typically releasing energy in the form of heat and light. In the case of methanol (CH₃OH), it burns in the presence of oxygen (O₂), producing carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O).
Let’s break it down:
- Reactants and Products:
- Methanol (CH₃OH) is a simple alcohol. Its molecular structure contains one carbon (C), four hydrogens (H), and one hydroxyl group (OH).
- Oxygen (O₂) is a diatomic molecule and is required for the combustion process.
- Upon combustion, the carbon in methanol is oxidized to form carbon dioxide (CO₂), and the hydrogen is oxidized to form water (H₂O).
- Balancing the Equation:
- Start by balancing the carbon atoms. Methanol contains one carbon atom per molecule, so you will need two molecules of methanol to balance the two carbon atoms on the product side (CO₂).
- Next, balance the hydrogen atoms. Each methanol molecule contains four hydrogen atoms, so two molecules of methanol will contain eight hydrogens. To balance this, you need four molecules of water (H₂O) since each water molecule has two hydrogens.
- Finally, balance the oxygen atoms. The products contain a total of four oxygen atoms from the carbon dioxide (2 CO₂) and four more from the water molecules (4 H₂O), making a total of eight oxygen atoms. Since each O₂ molecule provides two oxygen atoms, you need three O₂ molecules to supply the required eight oxygen atoms.
- State Symbols:
- Methanol is in liquid form (l), oxygen is a gas (g), carbon dioxide is a gas (g), and water is produced as a vapor (g) under combustion conditions due to the heat involved.
This equation is now balanced, reflecting the law of conservation of mass, which states that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.