Calculate the number of pounds of CO2 released into the atmosphere

Question

Calculate the number of pounds of CO2 released into the atmosphere when a 24.0 gallon tank of gasoline is burned in an automobile engine. Assume that gasoline is primarily octane, C8H18, and that the density of gasoline is 0.692 g⋅mL−1. This assumption ignores additives. Also, assume complete combustion.

CO2 released=

Answer 1

combustion of octane:

2C₈H₁₈ + 25O₂ ––> 16CO₂ + 18H₂O

first we must convert gallons of octane into mL

24 gallons X (3.785L/1 gallon) X (1,000ml/L)= 9.084 E4 mL

next we use the density to turn mL into grams and the molar mass to turn grams into moles

9.084E4 mL X (.692g/1mL) X (1mol/114.23g)= 550.30447 moles

next we use the balanced equation to convert moles of octane into moles of CO2

550.30447 mols octane X (16mol co2/ 2 mol octane)= 4.4024E3 moles co2

lastly, we convert moles of Co2 into lbs

4.4024E3 mols X (44.01 g/mol) X (1kg/1000g) X (2.20462 lbs/1kg)= 427.15 lbs co2