Final answer:
By applying the law of conservation of mass to the stoichiometry of the reaction between methane and oxygen, it is calculated that 36 grams of water are produced when 16 g of methane react with 64 g of oxygen to yield 44 g of carbon dioxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chemical reaction between methane (CH4) and oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) can be represented by the balanced equation:
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
From the conservation of mass and stoichiometry of the reaction, we can deduce that 16 g of methane react with 64 g of oxygen to produce 44 g of carbon dioxide and a certain amount of water. By subtracting the mass of carbon dioxide from the total mass of reactants, we can find the mass of water produced:
Mass of reactants (CH4 and O2) = 16 g + 64 g = 80 g
Mass of products (CO2 and H2O) = Mass of reactants
Mass of water = Mass of reactants - Mass of CO2
Mass of water = 80 g - 44 g = 36 g
Thus, 36 grams of water are produced from this reaction.