Oxygen Requirement in Combustion Equations

Steps:

• Write balanced combustion equations for each compound to CO2 and H2O.
• Determine moles of O2 per mole of compound from the O2 coefficient.
• Compare values: CH3OH (1.5), CH3COOH (2), C2H6 (3.5), C2H2 (2.5).
• Select the compound with the minimum O2 moles.

Why A is correct:

• CH3OH contains oxygen in its structure, minimizing external O2 needed per the combustion formula adjusted for inherent oxygen.

Why the others are wrong:

• B requires 2 moles of O2 due to two carbons and less inherent oxygen.
• C requires 3.5 moles of O2 as a saturated hydrocarbon with high H content.
• D requires 2.5 moles of O2 from its unsaturated triple bond structure.

Final answer: A