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Catalyse That!



Stage: 5 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1


This problem explores the consequences of Avogadro's hypothesis that the volume occupied by $1$ mole of gas molecules at a fixed temperature and pressure is the same for any gas. In this problem, work on the assumption that all compounds (including water) are in gaseous form.

$10$cm$^3$ of ethane C$_2$H$_6$ is injected into a large chamber of oxygen and completely combusted at high temperature

2C$_2$H$_6$ + $7$O$_2$ $\rightarrow$ 4CO$_2$+ 6H$_2$O

Does the total volume of gas increase, decrease or stay the same?

Will the same be true if any hydrocarbon is completely combusted? Are there any extreme cases which give rise to very large changes in volume?

Can you find any combustion processes using other compounds for which the total volume of gas is unchanged by the reaction?