Question

A mixture of methane and ethylene (ethene) in the volume ratio x : y has a total volume of 30ml.On complete combustion it gave 40ml of CO₂.If the ratio had been y : x , instead of x : y what volume of CO2 could have been obtained??

Answer 1

Methane contains one carbon and ethene contains 2 carbons.Therefore, the ratio of volumes of methane and CO₂ produced will be 1:1 whereas ratio of volumes of ethene and CO₂ produced will be 1:2.

Thus, x : y = 2:1, since 20 ml methane will give 20 ml CO₂ and 10 ml ethane will give 20 ml CO₂ so a total of 40 ml CO2.

If the ratio is reversed i.e y:x, then 10 ml methane will give 10 ml CO2 and 20 ml ethene will give 2 x 20 = 40 ml CO₂, so a total of 50 ml CO₂