Question

Complete and balance the given equation :

${\mathrm{CH}}_4+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to$

Answer 1

• The given equation is of burning of Methane(CH₄) in presence of Oxygen.
• Methane on burning gives Carbon dioxide, water, heat, and light.

So, the reaction is-

${\mathrm{CH}}_4\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to {\mathrm{CO}}_2+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}+\mathrm{Heat}+\mathrm{Light}$

When we count the number of atoms in the reactant and the molecule is unequal, So, we get an unbalanced equation.

Atoms	Reactant	Product
C	1	1
H	4	2
O	2	3

Balancing the equation-

• We multiply Oxygen molecule in reactant with 2.
• After that, we get extra Hydrogen, which can be balanced by multiplying the water molecule in the byproduct by 2.

Atoms	Reactant	Product
C	1	1
H	4	4
O	4	4

Hence, we get a complete balanced equation-

$\underset{\mathrm{Methane}}{{\mathrm{CH}}_4\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Oxygen}}{2{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide}}{{\mathrm{CO}}_2}+\underset{\mathrm{Water}}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}}+\mathrm{Heat}+\mathrm{Light}$