The combustion of methane gas, ch4 , in oxygen yields carbon dioxide and water. write the balanced chemical equation for this reaction. phases are optional. do not write an ionic equation (i. e., the answer should not show any charges).

CH4 + 202 → CO2 + 2H2O

Explanation:

The combustion of methane gas (CH4) can be written as followed

CH4 + O2

The Law of Conservation of Mass basically states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed. As such, we must be able to show this in our chemical reaction equations.

The combustion of methane gas is an irreversible reaction.

The products are carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O)

CH4 + 02 → CO2 + H2O

Since matter can neither be created nor destroyed; on both side of thereaction we should have the same amount of elements.

On the left side we have 4 hydrogen atoms. Toget 4 hydrogen atoms on the right side weshould multiply H2O by 2

CH4 + 02 → CO2 + 2H2O

On both sides, the amount of hydrogen ( and also carbon) atoms is equal now. But, on the righ side we have 4 oxygen atoms, while, on the left side only 2 oxygen atoms.  To equal this, we should multiply O2 on the left side by 2.

CH4 + 202 → CO2 + 2H2O

This is the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of methane gas