We are given that 15 mL of an unknown gaseous hydrocarbon reacts completely with 375 mL of air at 300 K and 1 atm. The air contains 20 % $$O_2$$ by volume, so first we separate the oxygen and nitrogen present in this air sample.
20 % of 375 mL is oxygen, the rest is nitrogen:
$$V_{O_2\,(\,\text{present in air}\,)} = 0.20 \times 375\,\text{mL} = 75\,\text{mL}$$
$$V_{N_2\,(\,\text{present in air}\,)} = 375\,\text{mL} - 75\,\text{mL} = 300\,\text{mL}$$
Let the unknown hydrocarbon be $$C_xH_y.$$ The complete combustion is written as
$$C_xH_y + \left( x + \frac{y}{4} \right)O_2 \;\rightarrow\; xCO_2 + \frac{y}{2}H_2O$$
All volumes are measured at the same temperature and pressure, therefore volume ratios equal mole ratios. For 15 mL of the hydrocarbon, the stoichiometric oxygen required is
$$V_{O_2\,(\,\text{required}\,)}=15\,\text{mL}\times\left( x+\frac{y}{4} \right)=15\left(x+\frac{y}{4}\right)\,\text{mL}$$
The products that remain in the gaseous state after combustion (water is stated to condense) are $$CO_2,$$ any unused $$O_2,$$ and all the $$N_2.$$ Their total measured volume is 345 mL.
Initial total volume before ignition:
$$V_{\text{initial}} = 15\,\text{mL (hydrocarbon)} + 375\,\text{mL (air)} = 390\,\text{mL}$$
Final total volume after reaction (with liquid water removed):
$$V_{\text{final}} = 345\,\text{mL}$$
Hence the net contraction in volume is
$$\Delta V = V_{\text{initial}} - V_{\text{final}} = 390\,\text{mL} - 345\,\text{mL} = 45\,\text{mL}$$
This contraction can also be expressed in terms of the reacting gases. The nitrogen (300 mL) is inert, so its volume does not change. The hydrocarbon (15 mL) disappears, $$x$$ volumes of $$CO_2$$ for each volume of hydrocarbon appear, and $$O_2$$ is partly or completely consumed. We now count the final gaseous volumes one by one.
Final $$N_2$$ volume (unchanged): $$300\,\text{mL}.$$
Final $$CO_2$$ volume produced: each mole of hydrocarbon gives $$x$$ moles of $$CO_2,$$ so
$$V_{CO_2} = 15x\,\text{mL}$$
Final unused $$O_2$$ volume:
$$V_{O_2\,(\,\text{unused}\,)} = 75\,\text{mL} - 15\left(x+\frac{y}{4}\right)\,\text{mL}$$
Total final volume therefore is
$$V_{\text{final}} = V_{N_2} + V_{CO_2} + V_{O_2\,(\,\text{unused}\,)}$$
$$\phantom{V_{\text{final}}}=300 + 15x + \left[\,75 - 15\left(x+\frac{y}{4}\right)\right]$$
$$\phantom{V_{\text{final}}}=300 + 75 + 15x - 15x - \frac{15y}{4}$$
$$\phantom{V_{\text{final}}}=375 - \frac{15y}{4}$$
But we know that this must equal the experimentally observed 345 mL, so
$$375 - \frac{15y}{4} = 345$$
Subtracting 345 on both sides gives
$$30 = \frac{15y}{4}$$
Multiplying by 4 and dividing by 15 gives
$$y = 8$$
Thus the hydrocarbon contains eight hydrogen atoms.
Now we evaluate how much oxygen has actually been consumed when $$y=8.$$
The oxygen volume required becomes
$$V_{O_2\,(\,\text{required}\,)} = 15\left(x+\frac{8}{4}\right) = 15\left(x+2\right) = 15x + 30\,\text{mL}$$
The remaining oxygen (which cannot be negative) is
$$V_{O_2\,(\,\text{unused}\,)} = 75 - (15x + 30) = 45 - 15x\,\text{mL}$$
Because a negative unused volume is impossible, we need $$45 - 15x \ge 0,$$ hence
$$x \le 3$$
Possible integer values of $$x$$ are therefore 1, 2, or 3. Among the answer choices, the only formula with $$y = 8$$ and such an $$x$$ is $$C_3H_8.$$ (If $$x=3,$$ the unused oxygen volume becomes exactly zero, which is perfectly permissible.)
Consequently, the unknown hydrocarbon is propane, $$C_3H_8.$$
Hence, the correct answer is Option D.