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.
