Question

1. select the statement that describes the \combust methane\ balanced equation. what is methane? 2 molecules of methane reacts with 1 molecule of oxygen to produce 2 molecules of carbon dioxide and 1 molecule of water. 2 molecules of methane reacts with 2 molecules of oxygen to produce 2 molecules of carbon dioxide and 2 molecules of water. 1 molecule of methane reacts with 2 molecules of oxygen to produce 1 molecule of carbon dioxide and 2 molecules of water.

Explanation:

Step1: Write the chemical formula

Methane is $CH_4$, oxygen is $O_2$, carbon - dioxide is $CO_2$ and water is $H_2O$. The combustion of methane is a reaction between methane and oxygen to produce carbon - dioxide and water. The unbalanced equation is $CH_4 + O_2
ightarrow CO_2+H_2O$.

Step2: Balance the equation

For carbon, there is 1 carbon atom on the left - hand side (in $CH_4$), so we have 1 $CO_2$ on the right - hand side. For hydrogen, there are 4 hydrogen atoms in $CH_4$, so we need 2 $H_2O$ molecules on the right - hand side to balance the hydrogen atoms. Now, for oxygen, on the right - hand side we have 2 oxygen atoms in $CO_2$ and 2 oxygen atoms in 2 $H_2O$ (total 4 oxygen atoms). So we need 2 $O_2$ molecules on the left - hand side. The balanced equation is $CH_4 + 2O_2
ightarrow CO_2+2H_2O$, which means 1 molecule of methane reacts with 2 molecules of oxygen to produce 1 molecule of carbon dioxide and 2 molecules of water.

Answer:

1 molecule of methane reacts with 2 molecules of oxygen to produce 1 molecule of carbon dioxide and 2 molecules of water.