Draw pictures and use words to describe the relationship of the atoms shown by:
CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)
this is the combustion of methane
if you have natural gas in your home, this shows where the heat comes from
methane burns (with oxygen) , resulting in carbon dioxide and water
To draw pictures and describe the relationship of the atoms in the chemical equation, we need to understand the meaning of the chemical symbols and their arrangement.
1. CH4(g) (Methane gas):
- The symbol "C" represents carbon, and the "H" represents hydrogen.
- The subscript 4 indicates that there are four hydrogen atoms bonded to a single carbon atom.
- You can draw a picture by representing a carbon atom in the center with four hydrogen atoms bonded around it.
H H
\ /
C
|
H
2. 2O2(g) (Oxygen gas):
- The symbol "O" represents oxygen.
- The subscript 2 indicates that there are two oxygen molecules, each consisting of two oxygen atoms bonded together.
- You can draw a picture by representing two oxygen molecules as follows:
O O O O
3. CO2(g) (Carbon dioxide gas):
- The symbol "CO2" represents carbon dioxide.
- In carbon dioxide, one carbon atom is bonded to two oxygen atoms.
- You can draw a picture by representing a carbon atom with double bonds to two oxygen atoms.
O
\\
C
//
O
4. 2H2O(g) (Water vapor):
- The symbol "H2O" represents water.
- Each water molecule contains two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom.
- You can draw a picture by representing two water molecules as follows:
H H H H
\ / \ /
O O
Overall reaction:
By analyzing the given equation, we can see that:
- One methane molecule reacts with two oxygen molecules to produce one carbon dioxide molecule and two water molecules.
- In terms of the atoms involved, one carbon atom, four hydrogen atoms, and four oxygen atoms are rearranged during the reaction.
Note: The (g) notation represents that the compounds are in the gas phase.
To describe the relationship of atoms in the chemical equation CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g), let's break it down step by step:
Step 1: Start with methane (CH4(g))
- Draw a central carbon (C) atom.
- Attach four hydrogen (H) atoms to the carbon atom, forming a tetrahedral shape around it.
Step 2: React with oxygen (O2(g))
- Draw two oxygen (O) molecules (each O2 represents two oxygen atoms bonded together).
Step 3: Formation of carbon dioxide (CO2(g))
- Break one oxygen molecule, take two oxygen atoms.
- Attach each oxygen atom to the carbon atom in methane.
- Now, carbon is bonded to two oxygen atoms, forming carbon dioxide (CO2).
Step 4: Formation of water (H2O(g))
- Break the second oxygen molecule, take two oxygen atoms.
- Attach two hydrogen (H) atoms to each oxygen atom.
- Now, you have two water molecules (H2O), each formed by one oxygen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms.
The final result is the formation of carbon dioxide (CO2) and two water molecules (2H2O). Below is a depiction of the reaction:
C
/
H H H
\ | /
C
/ | \
H H O=O
||
O
/ \
H H