What type of reaction occurs in CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O?

What type of reaction occurs in CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O?

• A. Addition
• B. Complete Combustion
• C. Incomplete Combustion
• D. Substitution

Answer: (B)

Combustion of a hydrocarbon depends on how much oxygen is available. When methane burns with enough oxygen, it oxidizes completely to carbon dioxide and water, as shown in the equation with products CO2 and H2O and no carbon-containing soot or carbon monoxide. This full oxidation is what defines complete combustion. The other ideas don’t fit here: addition isn’t the kind of reaction methane undergoes with oxygen, and substitution isn’t happening in this burning process. Incomplete combustion would produce carbon monoxide or solid carbon if oxygen were limited, which isn’t the case in this equation.

Combustion of a hydrocarbon depends on how much oxygen is available. When methane burns with enough oxygen, it oxidizes completely to carbon dioxide and water, as shown in the equation with products CO2 and H2O and no carbon-containing soot or carbon monoxide. This full oxidation is what defines complete combustion. The other ideas don’t fit here: addition isn’t the kind of reaction methane undergoes with oxygen, and substitution isn’t happening in this burning process. Incomplete combustion would produce carbon monoxide or solid carbon if oxygen were limited, which isn’t the case in this equation.