2006-12-05 12:29:16 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Nothing would happen. In fact, the match would not even ignite. In order for methane gas (CH4) to combust, it must be in the presence of oxygen. The chemical reaction would be as follows:
CH4 + 2O2 --> 2H2O + CO2
The products of such a reaction include water and carbon dioxide. Both of the products include oxygen. Therefore, if there was no oxygen in the room, the reaction could not occur.
2006-12-05 12:36:11 · answer #1 · answered by temporos 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the room was filled with 100% methane gas, you would suffocate and die. Also the match would not light anyway because there is no Oxygen.
2006-12-05 20:33:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If there is no oxygen, the match would fail to light. If you did get it to light (perhaps with some oxygen rich additive) nothing would happen except an extremely tiny portion of the methane might combust with the match.
2006-12-05 20:33:09 · answer #3 · answered by Chance20_m 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need at least some oxygen to make it burn. It would be like trying to light a match in a room that was 100 percent helium. Nada.
2006-12-05 20:37:12 · answer #4 · answered by F T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely nothing.
In order for there to be a flame or combustion, you must have an ignition source, a fuel and oxygen. If you are in a room with only CH4 gas, you do not have oxygen and therefore nothing happens.
(Actually, something will happen -- you will die if you stay in there too long, due to a lack of oxygen.)
2006-12-05 20:32:46 · answer #5 · answered by sep_n 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe the match would extinguish itself if it ever got lit - there's no oxygen to support a flame or explosion. Possibly the phosphorous in the match would undergo a reaction with the methane producing phosphine (PH3) and ethane (C2H6)? Dunno which way the energy slopes here but I know that phosphorous is hungry, otherwise it wouldn't oxidize so easily.
but just in case, I'd really like it if you could tape the experiment when you do it and post the results on youtube.
2006-12-05 20:42:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely nothing. The match wouldn't light since the combustion is a reaction fueled by oxygen.
2006-12-05 20:33:03 · answer #7 · answered by IndigoShades 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The match would NOT light, though there would be a spark. Then you would need to get out of that stinking room in a hurry because you as well as fire need oxygen!
2006-12-05 20:35:28 · answer #8 · answered by plezurgui 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It couldn't light. You couldn't get a spark, much less an explosion. The gas needs oxygen in order to "oxidize" (burn).
Without a certain optimal mixture of methane and oxygen you won't see anything spectacular.
2006-12-05 20:34:45 · answer #9 · answered by chocolahoma 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Since there would be no oxygen to support combustion the match would not light.
I hope I am wearing an oxygen mask as without one I would be too dead to strike a match.
2006-12-05 20:33:30 · answer #10 · answered by Warren D 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋