In complete combustion of propane, what are the main gaseous products?

Prepare for the WJEC GCSE Chemistry Exam with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Enhance your knowledge and boost your confidence. Get exam-ready today!

Multiple Choice

In complete combustion of propane, what are the main gaseous products?

Explanation:
In complete combustion, the carbon in propane fully oxidizes to carbon dioxide and the hydrogen fully oxidizes to water. For propane, the balanced reaction is C3H8 + 5 O2 → 3 CO2 + 4 H2O. This shows the main gaseous products are carbon dioxide and water vapour. Water appears as a gas at the high temperatures of combustion, while carbon dioxide is always a gas. If oxygen were limited, you’d get carbon monoxide or even elemental carbon, and oxygen could appear as a leftover reactant rather than a product, which is why those products aren’t the main ones in complete combustion.

In complete combustion, the carbon in propane fully oxidizes to carbon dioxide and the hydrogen fully oxidizes to water. For propane, the balanced reaction is C3H8 + 5 O2 → 3 CO2 + 4 H2O. This shows the main gaseous products are carbon dioxide and water vapour. Water appears as a gas at the high temperatures of combustion, while carbon dioxide is always a gas. If oxygen were limited, you’d get carbon monoxide or even elemental carbon, and oxygen could appear as a leftover reactant rather than a product, which is why those products aren’t the main ones in complete combustion.

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