Final answer:
The reaction between 16 grams of methane and 64 grams of oxygen producing 44 grams of carbon dioxide and 36 grams of water is consistent with the law of conservation of mass, as the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products (80 grams).
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine if the reaction between methane and oxygen yielding carbon dioxide and water is consistent with the provided masses, we need to consider the balanced chemical equation for the reaction:
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
This equation indicates that one mole of methane reacts with two moles of oxygen to produce one mole of carbon dioxide and two moles of water. Using the molar masses (methane: 16 g/mol, oxygen: 32 g/mol, carbon dioxide: 44 g/mol, water: 18 g/mol), we can confirm that the mass ratios in the reaction are conserved:
- 16 grams of methane (1 mole)
- 64 grams of oxygen (2 moles)
- 44 grams of carbon dioxide (1 mole)
- 36 grams of water (2 moles)
The total mass of the reactants is 16 grams of methane plus 64 grams of oxygen, which equals 80 grams. The total mass of the products is 44 grams of carbon dioxide plus 36 grams of water, which also equals 80 grams. Since the mass of the reactants equals the mass of the products, the law of conservation of mass is upheld and the reaction is consistent with the provided data.