In the reaction C + O2 → CO2, 18 g of carbon react with oxygen to produce 72 g of carbon dioxide. What mass of oxygen would be needed in the reaction?

A. 18 g

B. 54 g

C. 72 g

D. 90 g

Stoichiomety:

1 moles of C + 1 mol of O2 = 1 mol of CO2

multiply each # of moles times the atomic molar mass of the compund to find the relation is weights

Atomic or molar weights:

C: 12 g/mol

O2: 2 * 16 g/mol = 32 g/mol

CO2 = 12 g/mol + 2 * 16 g/mol = 44 g/mol

Stoichiometry:

12 g of C react with 32 g of O2 to produce 44 g of CO2

Then 18 g of C will react with: 18 * 32 / 12 g of Oxygen = 48 g of Oxygen

And the result will be 12 g of C + 48 g of O2 = 60 g of CO2.

You cannot obtain 72 g of CO2 from 18 g of C.

May be they just pretended that you use the law of consrvation of mass and say that you need 72 g - 18g = 54 g. But it violates the proportion of C and O2 in the CO2 and is not possible.

The answer is b-54 g

the answer is b-54 g