Question

How many moles of oxygen are required to completely combust 1 mole of propane (C\(_3\)H\(_8\))?

• A. 4 moles
• B. 6 moles
• C. 5 moles
• D. 3 moles

Hint:

Tip: Always balance the combustion of hydrocarbons carefully — follow the pattern C → CO\(_2\), H → H\(_2\)O, then balance O\(_2\).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The complete combustion of 1 mole of propane (C\(_3\)H\(_8\)) necessitates determining the moles of oxygen involved. This requires the balanced chemical equation for propane combustion:

C\(_3\)H\(_8\) + 5O\(_2\) → 3CO\(_2\) + 4H\(_2\)O

The stoichiometric relationship from this equation shows that 1 mole of propane reacts with 5 moles of oxygen to yield 3 moles of carbon dioxide and 4 moles of water.

Consequently, 5 moles of oxygen are needed for the complete combustion of 1 mole of propane.