How many grams of methane gas (CH4) need to be combusted to produce 12.5 L water vapor at 301 K and 1.1 atm? Show all of the work used to solve this problem.
Answer is: 4.45 grams of methane gas need to be combusted. Balanced chemical reaction: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O. Ideal gas law: p·V =
n·R·T.
p = 1.1 atm.
T = 301 K.
V(H₂O) = 12.5 L.
R = 0,08206 L·atm/mol·K. n(H₂O) = 1.1 atm ·
12.5 L ÷ 0,08206 L·atm/mol·K · 301 K. n(H₂O) = 0.556 mol. From chemical reaction: n(H₂O) : n(CH₄) = 2 : 1. n(CH₄) = 0.556 mol ÷ 2 = 0.278 mol. m(CH₄) = 0.278 mol · 16 g/mol. m(CH₄) = 4.448 g.