Question

When methane combines with oxygen, carbon dioxide and water are produced. How many methane molecules are needed to complete this model and obey the law of conservation of matter? conservation of matter?

Answer 1

C: one

Explanation: One .methane molecule should be added to the reactants side to balance the equation and obey the law of conservation of matter.

Answer 2

Answer: Only 1 molecule of methane gas is required in the chemical equation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Law of conservation of mass states that mass can neither be created nor be destroyed but it can only be transformed from one form to another form. This also means that total number of individual atoms on reactant side must be equal to the total number of individual atoms on the product side.

Every balanced chemical equation follows law of conservation of mass.

The chemical equation for the reaction of methane and oxygen gas follows:

`CH_4+2O_2\rightarrow CO_2+2H_2O`

By Stoichiometry of the reaction:

1 molecule of methane gas reacts with 2 molecules of oxygen gas to produce 1 molecule of carbon dioxide gas and 2 molecules of water.

Hence, only 1 molecule of methane gas is required in the chemical equation.