Question

Acetylene gas is often used in welding torches because of the very high heat produced when it reacts with oxygen gas, producing carbon dioxide gas and water vapor. Calculate the moles of carbon dioxide produced by the reaction of 1.5 mol of oxygen. Be sure your answer has a unit symbol, if necessary, and round it to significant digits.

Answer 1

Answer: 1.2 moles of carbon dioxide is produced for the given value of oxygen.

Explanation:

The chemical reaction for the combustion of acetylene follows the equation:

$2C_2H_2+5O_2\rightarrow 4CO_2+2H_2O$

By stoichiometry of the reaction:

5 moles of oxygen produces 4 moles of carbon dioxide.

So, 1.5 moles of oxygen will produce = $\frac{4}{5}\times 1.5=1.2mol$ of carbon dioxide.

Hence, 1.2 moles of carbon dioxide is produced for the given value of oxygen.