Question

___CH4 + ___O2 → ___CO2 + ___H2O When you burn natural gas in the laboratory, methane burns. What numbers fill in the blanks to balance this equation? A) 1,2,2,1 B) 1,2,1,2 C) 2,4,2,4 D) 2,1,2,1 Eliminate

Answer 1

The coefficient are 1,2,1,2 ( option B is correct)

Step-by-step explanation:

Step 1: Data given

Methane = CH4

Burning methane = CH4 + O2

Step 2: The unbalanced equation

CH4(g) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(g)

Step 3: Balancing the equation

CH4(g) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(g)

On the left side we have 4x H (in CH4), on the right side we have 2x H (in H2O). To balance the amount of H, on both sides, we have to multiply H2O (on the right side by 2).

CH4(g) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

On the left side we have 2x O (in O2), on the right side we have 4x O (2x in CO2 and 2x in 2H2O). To balance the amount of O on both sides, we have to multiply O2 (on the left side by 2).

CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

The coefficient are 1,2,1,2 ( option B is correct)