For complete combustion of one cubic foot of natural gas, how many cubic feet of air are needed at minimum?

To achieve complete combustion of natural gas, the ideal air-to-fuel ratio must be considered. Natural gas primarily consists of methane (CH4), and for complete combustion, it requires sufficient oxygen. The stoichiometric equation for the complete combustion of methane is as follows:

[ CH_4 + 2O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + 2H_2O ]

This equation illustrates that one molecule of methane requires two molecules of oxygen for complete combustion. In terms of air, which is composed of approximately 21% oxygen, the total volume of air needed is quite larger than that of the oxygen alone due to this percentage.

For every cubic foot of natural gas, around 10 cubic feet of air are needed to ensure that there is enough oxygen present for complete combustion. This is based on the understanding that the air to fuel ratio generally hovers around 10:1 for natural gas, which allows for sufficient oxygen to completely oxidize the fuel while accommodating for other gaseous components present in the air.

Hence, the best answer to the question regarding the minimum amount of air required for complete combustion of natural gas is indeed 10 cubic feet. This ensures that combustion occurs efficiently, minimizing unburned hydrocarbons and pollutants in