Final answer:
One methane molecule reacts with two oxygen molecules to form one carbon dioxide molecule and two water molecules, following stoichiometry. This applies universally, whether referring to individual molecules or moles as per Avogadro's law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The conclusion we can draw from the reaction of methane and oxygen is that it follows a stoichiometric pattern where one methane molecule (CH4) reacts with two oxygen molecules (O2) to form one carbon dioxide molecule (CO2) and two water molecules (H2O). The balanced chemical equation representing this reaction is CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O. This type of reaction is known as combustion, and it is exothermic, releasing energy in the form of heat and light.
For larger quantities, the reaction scales proportionally. For example, one dozen methane molecules would react with two dozen oxygen molecules to yield one dozen carbon dioxide molecules and two dozen water molecules. Similarly, one mole of methane reacts with two moles of oxygen to produce one mole of carbon dioxide and two moles of water according to the principle of Avogadro's law, which states that equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure contain an equal number of molecules.