In a reaction where alkanes react with excess oxygen, what products are primarily formed?

When alkanes react with excess oxygen during combustion, the reaction primarily produces carbon dioxide and water. This process is known as complete combustion. In a complete combustion reaction, alkanes react with oxygen molecules to fully oxidize the carbon and hydrogen atoms present in the alkane, resulting in the formation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O).

For example, when propane (an alkane) combusts in the presence of excess oxygen, it reacts as follows:

C₃H₈ + 5O₂ → 3CO₂ + 4H₂O.

In this equation, the propane molecule (C₃H₈) combines with oxygen, and the products obtained are three molecules of carbon dioxide and four molecules of water. The presence of excess oxygen ensures that the reaction goes to completion, resulting in the maximum amount of carbon dioxide and water being formed.

Other potential products, such as carbon monoxide or unreacted alkanes, would be present in a situation of incomplete combustion, typically occurring when there is insufficient oxygen. Additionally, hydrogen and carbon would not be stable products under combustion conditions of alkanes; hydrogen gas would generally react further with oxygen, and elemental carbon might appear only