How many moles of water would be produced by the complete combustion o

How many moles of water would be produced by the complete combustion of one mole of natural gas, CH₄, in excess of oxygen ?

1
2
3
4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
The complete combustion of natural gas, which is primarily methane (CH₄), in excess oxygen is represented by the balanced chemical equation:
CH₄(g) + 2O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + 2H₂O(g or l)
The coefficients in the balanced equation represent the relative number of moles of reactants and products. According to the equation, one mole of methane (CH₄) reacts with two moles of oxygen (O₂) to produce one mole of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and two moles of water (H₂O).
The stoichiometry of a balanced chemical equation gives the mole ratios of reactants and products. For the combustion of methane, 1 mole of CH₄ produces 2 moles of H₂O.
Combustion is a rapid reaction between a substance with an oxidant, usually oxygen, to produce heat and light. Complete combustion occurs when there is sufficient oxygen, yielding carbon dioxide and water as products for hydrocarbons like methane. Incomplete combustion occurs with insufficient oxygen, producing carbon monoxide and/or carbon. The question specifies “complete combustion in excess of oxygen”, ensuring the reaction proceeds as shown in the balanced equation.