According to the following reaction how many moles of carbon dioxide will be formed upon the complete reaction of 28.2 grams of carbon (graphite) with excess oxygen gas?

carbon (graphite) (s) + oxygen (g) #-># carbon dioxide (g)

1 Answer
anor277
Nov 3, 2016

Each mole of carbon gives #44*g# of carbon dioxide gas upon oxidation.

Explanation:

#C(s) + O_2(g) rarr CO_2(g)#.

The #1:1# stoichiometry is clear: moles of carbon, and dioxygen gas are equivalent to the moles of carbon dioxide gas generated.

We start with #(28.2*g)/(12.01*g*mol)=2.35*mol# #C#, and thus #2.35*molxx44.01*g*mol^-1# #CO_2(g)# are evolved.

Suppose that less than #100*g# of gas were collected in the experiment. Barring error on the part of the experimenter, what would be a reasonable explanation?

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