The combustion of ethane (C 2 H 6) produces carbon dioxide and steam. 2 C 2 H 6 (g) + 7 O 2 (g) ⟶ 4 CO 2 (g) + 6 H 2 O (g) How many moles of CO 2 are produced when 5.90 mol of ethane is burned in an excess of oxygen?

5.90 moles of ethane, C₂H₆, is burned in an excess of oxygen to produce 11.8 moles of CO₂.

Explanation:

To answer the question, we examine the chemical reaction as follows

2C₂H₆ (g) + 7O₂ (g) ⟶ 4CO₂ (g) + 6H₂O (g)

From the chemical reaction it is seen that 2 moles of ethane, C₂H₆, is required to produce 4 moles of CO₂

This means that 1 mole of C₂H₆, is required to produce 2 moles of CO₂

Since we are asked to find out how many moles of CO 2 are produced when 5.90 moles of ethane is burned in an excess of oxygen and we already know that 1 mole of C₂H₆, is required to produce 2 moles of CO₂, we multiply both the 1 mole of C₂H₆ and the 2 moles of CO₂ by 5.90 to obtain;

(5.90 * 1 mole) of C₂H₆ is required to produce (5.90 * 2 moles) of CO₂ or

5.90 moles of C₂H₆ is required to produce 11.8 moles of CO₂.