ANSWER
Oxygen is the limiting reactant in the reaction
EXPLANATION
Given information
[tex]\text{ CH}_{4(g)}+\text{ 2O}_{2(g)}\rightarrow\text{ CO}_{2(g)}\text{ + 2H}_2O(g)[/tex]
The mole of methane is 1.5 moles
The mole of oxygen is 2.0 moles
To determine the limiting reactant in the reaction above, follow the steps below
Step 1: Write the formula for calculating the limiting reactant in a reaction
[tex]\text{ = }\frac{moles}{stoichiometric\text{ coefficient of the reactant}}[/tex]
Step 2: write the stoichiometric coefficient of the reactants in the above equation
The stoichiometric coefficient of methane is 1
The stoichiometric coefficient of oxygen is 2
Step 3: Divide the mole of the reactants by their stoichiometric coefficient
[tex]\begin{gathered} \text{ Methane = }\frac{1.5}{1} \\ \text{ Methane = 1.5 mol/wt } \\ \\ \text{ Oxygen = }\frac{2.0}{2} \\ \text{ oxygen = 1 mol/wt} \end{gathered}[/tex]
From the above calculations, you will see that oxygen has the least mole per weight.
Therefore, oxygen is the limiting reactant in the above reaction
