What are the products of combustion when oxygen reacts with methane?

When oxygen reacts with methane in a combustion process, the primary products formed are carbon dioxide and water vapor. This reaction can be represented by the balanced chemical equation:

CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O

In this equation, one molecule of methane (CH4) reacts with two molecules of oxygen (O2) to produce one molecule of carbon dioxide (CO2) and two molecules of water (H2O). This reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases energy in the form of heat, which is characteristic of combustion processes.

The formation of carbon dioxide indicates that all the carbon in methane is completely oxidized, while the production of water vapor occurs as a result of the hydrogen in methane combining with oxygen. This complete combustion is standard when the supply of oxygen is sufficient.

In scenarios where there is limited oxygen, other products like carbon monoxide could form, but in the context of complete combustion, carbon dioxide and water are the expected and primary products. Understanding this core principle is fundamental in HVAC, especially in applications like gas heating systems, where efficient combustion is crucial for optimal performance and safety.