what kind of chemical reaction is methane + oxygen → water + carbon dioxide + heat
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The chemical reaction between methane and oxygen to form water, carbon dioxide, and heat is a combustion reaction.
In a combustion reaction, a substance reacts with oxygen (O₂), typically in the presence of heat, to produce energy in the form of heat or light. In this case, methane (CH₄), a hydrocarbon, reacts with oxygen gas (O₂) to produce carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O), and energy is released as heat. This is the general reaction for methane combustion:
CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O + heat
Explanation:
- Reactants: The reactants in this reaction are methane (CH₄) and oxygen (O₂). Methane is the simplest alkane, and oxygen is a diatomic molecule (O₂).
- Products: The products of this reaction are carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O), and energy. The carbon dioxide is produced due to the oxidation of the carbon atom in methane, and water is formed as a result of the combination of hydrogen atoms from methane and oxygen molecules.
- Exothermic Nature: This reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat. The combustion of methane is commonly used as a fuel source, for example, in natural gas heating and cooking, because it releases a significant amount of energy.
- Balanced Equation: To ensure the law of conservation of mass is followed, the number of atoms of each element on the left must be equal to the number of atoms on the right. The balanced equation for the combustion of methane is: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O + heat
This shows that for each molecule of methane, two molecules of oxygen are required to produce one molecule of carbon dioxide, two molecules of water, and heat.
In summary, the combustion of methane with oxygen is a typical combustion reaction that releases energy, producing carbon dioxide and water as products.
