Propane, CzHg, a fuel used in many outdoor grills, bums in oxygen to produce carbon dioxide gas, CO2, and water vapor, H20, as shown in the reaction below. If 2.0 mol of propane are burned (reacted with oxygen), how many moles of carbon dioxide will be produced?
C3Hg (g) + 5 02(g) → 3 CO2 (g) + 4 H,0 (g)
First, we need to determine the stoichiometry of the reaction. From the balanced equation, we see that 1 mol of C3H8 produces 3 mol of CO2. Therefore, if 2.0 mol of C3H8 are burned, the number of moles of CO2 produced can be calculated using the following ratio:
2.0 mol C3H8 x (3 mol CO2 / 1 mol C3H8) = 6.0 mol CO2
Therefore, if 2.0 mol of propane are burned, 6.0 mol of carbon dioxide will be produced.