A furnace that provides heat by burning methane gas (CH4) must have the correct mixture of air and fuel to operate efficiently. What is the mole ratio of air to methane gas in the combustion of methane? Hint: Air is 20% Oxygen.
2007-03-08 12:13:05 · 2 answers · asked by peexinxmyxpants 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The combustion of Methane is:
CH4 (g) + 2 O2 (g) --> CO2 (g) + 2 H2O (g)
with 2 moles of diatomic Oxygen needed for each mole of Methane. Taking into account the air = 20% O2, then the ratio of Air to Methane is 2.0/0.20 = 10.
In terms of volume of gas, most Methane fueled furnaces us a 11.4 to 1 ratio.
2007-03-08 13:27:27 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 7 · 12⤊ 0⤋
I suppose you would want to think of the oxygen electrons forming wiht the hydrogen of the methane gas to form water(H2O). Because heat would also promote the electronic transfer.... Burning one molecule of methane in the presence of oxygen releases one molecule of CO2 (carbon dioxide) and two molecules of H2O:
CH4 + 2O2 â CO2 + 2H2O
2007-03-08 20:19:16 · answer #2 · answered by Beagle B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋