Question

Methane bums in oxygen to yield carbon dioxide and water. The chemical formula for this reaction is `CH_4 + 2O_2 -> CO_2 + 2H_2O`. What is the product, or what are the products, of this reaction?

Answer 1

Clearly, the products of the reaction are `"carbon dioxide"` and `"water........"`, as with any complete hydrocarbon combustion,

Explanation:

And there is another reaction product; combustion of hydrocarbons leads to the production of heat, that we can use to do work:

`CH_4(g)+2O_2(g) rarr CO_2(g) + 2H_2O(l) + Delta`