Balance CH₄ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O
CH₄(g) + 2 O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + 2 H₂O(l)
Balance an equation
CH₄(g)+2O₂(g)→CO₂(g)+2H₂O(l)
Balanced
Atoms on each side
| Atom | As writtenleft : right | Balancedleft : right |
|---|---|---|
| C | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| H | 4:2 | 4:4 |
| O | 2:3 | 4:4 |
Check atoms
How to balance it, step by step
- Count the atoms of each element on both sides, as written.
- Start with the biggest formula, CH₄: put 1 in front of it.
- C: 1 on the left. Put 1 in front of CO₂.
- H: 4 on the left. Put 2 in front of H₂O (2 × 2 = 4).
- O: 4 on the right. Put 2 in front of O₂ (2 × 2 = 4).
- Check: C 1 = 1, H 4 = 4, O 4 = 4. Balanced.
What happens
It is a combustion reaction: a substance burns in oxygen and gives out heat and light. Methane, the main gas in natural gas and biogas, burns in oxygen to give carbon dioxide, water, heat and light.
Methane burning: quick answers
What is the balanced equation for methane burning?
CH₄(g) + 2 O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + 2 H₂O(l). The coefficients are 1, 2, 1 and 2. Each side then has 1 C, 4 H and 4 O.
What type of reaction is methane burning?
It is a combustion reaction: a substance burns in oxygen and gives out heat and light. Methane, the main gas in natural gas and biogas, burns in oxygen to give carbon dioxide, water, heat and light.
How do you balance CH₄ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O?
Start with the biggest formula, CH₄: put 1 in front of it. C: 1 on the left. Put 1 in front of CO₂. H: 4 on the left. Put 2 in front of H₂O (2 × 2 = 4). O: 4 on the right. Put 2 in front of O₂ (2 × 2 = 4). Never change a subscript, because that would change the substance.