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StoichiometryChemistryHigh schoolabout 1:41

Grams of CO2 from 44 g of C3H8: animated lesson

A narrated, step-by-step stoichiometry video lesson with captions. Final answer: C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O; 44 g C3H8 → CO2: 131.737 g (2.9934 mol).

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Video with a synthetic English voice and captions. Pick another language for subtitles in that language, or open the interactive version.

Video narrated by a synthetic voice (Piper TTS, en_US-ljspeech-high voice (LJ Speech dataset, public domain)); the steps come from our maths engine and the answer was checked independently. Download MP4 (0.6 MB) · Captions (WebVTT)

Steps on screen

1. The problem
Worked example
In the reaction C3H8 + O2 → CO2 + H2O, how many grams of CO2 form from 44 g of C3H8?
2. Steps, part 1
1. $\text{C}: 3c_{1} = 1c_{3} \\ \text{H}: 8c_{1} = 2c_{4} \\ \text{O}: 2c_{2} = 2c_{3} + 1c_{4}$
  Write an atom balance for each element
2. $c_{1} = 1,\ c_{2} = 5,\ c_{3} = 3,\ c_{4} = 4$
  Solve the linear system with the smallest whole numbers
3. $\mathrm{C_{3}H_{8}} + 5\mathrm{O_{2}} \rightarrow 3\mathrm{CO_{2}} + 4\mathrm{H_{2}O}$
  Balanced equation
4. $n = \frac{44\ \text{g}}{44.097\ \text{g/mol}} = 0.9978\ \text{mol}$
  Moles of C3H8
3. Steps, part 2
1. $n = 0.9978 \times \frac{3}{1} = 2.9934\ \text{mol},\quad m = 2.9934 \times 44.009 = 131.737\ \text{g}$
  CO2 via the mole ratio 3 : 1
4. The answer
$\mathrm{C_{3}H_{8}} + 5\mathrm{O_{2}} \rightarrow 3\mathrm{CO_{2}} + 4\mathrm{H_{2}O}$
C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O
5. Check
- C: 3 = 3, H: 8 = 8, O: 10 = 10 ✓
- CO2 is produced in a 3 : 1 mole ratio to C3H8.

Transcript

The problem. Here is the problem: In the reaction C3H8 plus O2 → CO2 plus H2O, how many grams of CO2 form from 44 g of C3H8? Balance atoms of every element, then use the coefficients as mole ratios.

Steps, part 1. Write an atom balance for each element. Give each species an unknown coefficient; atoms of every element must be equal on both sides. Solve the linear system with the smallest whole numbers. Exact elimination leaves one free coefficient; scaling by the least common denominator gives integers. Balanced equation. Moles of C3H8.

Steps, part 2. CO2 via the mole ratio 3: 1.

The answer. So the answer is C3H8 plus 5O2 → 3CO2 plus 4H2O; 44 g C3H8 → CO2: 131.737 g (2.9934 mol). Coefficients in a balanced equation count particles (moles), not grams. Convert grams to moles, apply the mole ratio, then convert back to grams with the other species prime molar mass. Assumes the reaction goes to completion with the known species fully consumed (or formed).

Check. C: 3 equals 3, H: 8 equals 8, O: 10 equals 10, which checks out. CO2 is produced in a 3: 1 mole ratio to C3H8.

About stoichiometry

Use a balanced equation to find how many grams of product form from a given mass of reactant.

Grams of CO2 from 44 g of C3H8: Animated Step-by-Step Lesson