How do alkanes react with oxygen?

Alkanes react with oxygen in a combustion reaction to produce carbon dioxide and water.

In more detail, alkanes are a type of hydrocarbon, which means they are made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms. When they react with oxygen, this is known as a combustion reaction. Combustion reactions are exothermic, meaning they release energy in the form of heat and light. This is why alkanes are often used as fuels.

The general equation for the combustion of an alkane is: alkane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water. For example, the combustion of methane (CH4), the simplest alkane, can be represented as: CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O. This equation shows that one molecule of methane reacts with two molecules of oxygen to produce one molecule of carbon dioxide and two molecules of water.

It's important to note that for a combustion reaction to occur, there must be enough oxygen. If there isn't enough oxygen, the alkane will undergo incomplete combustion. Incomplete combustion occurs when the supply of air or oxygen is poor. Water is still produced, but carbon monoxide and carbon are produced instead of carbon dioxide. This is a dangerous situation as carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas.

In summary, alkanes react with oxygen in a combustion reaction to produce carbon dioxide and water. This reaction is exothermic and is the reason why alkanes are commonly used as fuels. However, if there isn't enough oxygen, incomplete combustion can occur, producing carbon monoxide and carbon.