Encrypted Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 Hello, I have a question, in a book i read that CH4 + O2 = CO2 + H20. Now I notice that there are 3 oxygen oxygen in the reactants and only three are there in the products. From where did that extra molecule come? I also notice that there are 4 hydrogen atoms in the reactans and only two in the products...did those hydrogen atoms "rearrange" themseleves to form oxygen molecules??? What did happen??? Encrypted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budullewraagh Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 this should have gone in the chem section, and i take it will be moved. anyway, methane isn't [math]CH_1[/math] it's [math]CH_4[/math] it's actually a simple process; the hydrogen is bonded to the carbon in a barely polar bond (according to pauling the electronegativity difference is 0.2). meanwhile, oxygen, the 2nd most electronegative element (to fluorine according to pauling, allred-rochow and clemente) is floating around all diatomic waiting to oxidize things. it picks its target and attacks, displacing the hydrogen in methane and oxidizing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J'Dona Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 Ah, the equation just needs to be balanced by adding another O2 molecule to the reactants. CH4 + 2O2 ---> CO2 + 2H20 Now both sides have 1 C, 4 O, and 4 H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firedragon52 Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 Here's a visually representation of what is happening: Compliments of: http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/511natgascombust.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Encrypted Posted September 15, 2004 Author Share Posted September 15, 2004 Ahhh.... Excellent! I get this now. So if there was only one methane molecule and only one oxygen molecule, there would be no combustion! We need more than one oxygen molecule! This was what we were being taught in Science 09. But the teacher wouldn't answer my question saying it was too advanced for my level:mad:. Anyways, Thanks a lot! I knew i count on you guys! Encrypted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budullewraagh Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 if there were one molecule of methane and one molecule of oxygen i would imagine you'd end up with di-hydroxyl methane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilded Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 "saying it was too advanced for my level" What a boring person your teacher is. Or maybe he didn't just know it himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primarygun Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 Wanna question on the water molecule. Is the part near the oxygen atom so negatively charged made by the Dipole-Dipole bond+ the two lone pairs ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budullewraagh Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 it's the lone pairs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primarygun Posted September 17, 2004 Share Posted September 17, 2004 Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now