a volume of 50 cm of oxygen was exploded in 50cm of carbon iv oxide. what was the volume of the residual gas at room temperature?

Insufficient information provided. The volume of the residual gas will depend on the pressure and temperature of the system after the explosion.

To find the volume of the residual gas at room temperature, we need to apply the concept of Gay-Lussac's Law, which states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature when pressure and the number of moles are constant.

Since the volume of both gases is given as 50 cm, we can assume that they are at the same initial temperature and pressure. Therefore, the ratio of their volumes will be the same after the reaction.

Let me calculate the volume of the residual gas for you step-by-step:

Step 1: Identify the gases involved and their chemical equation:
- Oxygen: O2
- Carbon IV Oxide: CO2

The balanced equation for the reaction is:
2CO2 + O2 → 2CO2

Step 2: Determine the stoichiometry of the reaction:
- The stoichiometry tells us the ratio in which the gases react.
- From the balanced equation, we can see that 2 volumes of CO2 react with 1 volume of O2.

Step 3: Calculate the volume of the residual gas:
- Since we have equal initial volumes of O2 and CO2, the entire volume of O2 will react, and there will be no O2 left.
- The residual gas volume will only be due to the remaining CO2.

According to the stoichiometry, for every 2 volumes of CO2, 1 volume of O2 reacts:
- Therefore, the volume of residual gas will be half that of CO2.
- Hence, the volume of the residual gas will be 50 cm / 2 = <<50/2=25>>25 cm.

Therefore, the volume of the residual gas at room temperature is 25 cm.