In the reaction c + o2 → co2, 18 g of carbon react with oxygen to produce 72 g of carbon dioxide. what mass of oxygen would be needed in the reaction?

a.18 g
b.54 g
c.72 g
d.90 g

Stoichiomety:

1 moles of C + 1 mol of O2 = 1 mol of CO2

multiply each # of moles times the atomic molar mass of the compund to find the relation is weights

Atomic or molar weights:

C: 12 g/mol
O2: 2 * 16 g/mol = 32 g/mol
CO2 = 12 g/mol + 2* 16 g/mol = 44 g/mol

Stoichiometry:

12 g of C react with 32 g of O2 to produce 44 g of CO2

Then 18 g of C will react with: 18 * 32/ 12 g of Oxygen = 48 g of Oxygen

And the result will be 12 g of C + 48 g of O2 = 60 g of CO2.

You cannot obtain 72 g of CO2 from 18 g of C.

May be they just pretended that you use the law of consrvation of mass and say that you need 72 g - 18g = 54 g. But it violates the proportion of C and O2 in the CO2 and is not possible.

I’m not sure what your trying to say here.. can you clarify again?