Many stoves use methane gas (CH4) as cooking fuel. When methane is burned, energy is released in the form of heat and light.

You are going to see an animation of the methane-burning reaction. Watch closely; try to identify the reactants and products.

CH H

H

H

O O

O O

Energy

Energy

1. Identify the reactants in the methane-burning reaction. Use chemical formulas in your answer.

2. Identify the products of the methane-burning reaction. Use chemical formulas in your answer.

3. Use your answers from #1 and #2 to write the complete chemical equation for this reaction.

+ + + ENERGY

4. Explain how the methane-burning reaction is similar to many of the reactions that occur in living things.

5. Explain why the methane-burning reaction (and all chemical reactions) involves an energy change.

6. While the burning of methane does not occur in our bodies, similar reactions do occur. Identify one of these reactions AND explain why we depend on it for survival.