how many grams of CO2 will a car use if 883,400 grams of octane (C8H18) is being used? (grams C8H18 → grams CO2)

Question

if a car uses 1,750,000 grams of octane, how many grams of CO2 is being used? is there a certain equation?

Answer 1

First write a balanced combustion reaction: 2 C₈H₁₈ + 25 O₂ --> 16 CO₂ + 18 H₂O. CO₂ is being produced, not used. The "certain equation" would be 1.0000g C₈H₁₈ * (1 mol C₈H₁₈ / 114.23g C₈H₁₈) * (16 mol CO₂ / 2 mol C₈H₁₈) * (24.022g CO₂ / 1 mol CO₂) = 1.6823g CO₂, so multiply grams of octane by 1.6823!

883,400g octane -> 1,486,000g CO₂, and 1,750,000g octane -> 2,944,000g CO₂.