Question

What mass of CO2 (in kilograms) does the combustion of a 16-gallon tank of gasoline release into the atmosphere? Assume the gasoline is pure octane (C8H18) and that it has a density of 0.70 g/mL.
Express your answer in kilograms to two significant figures.

Answer 1

Mass of CO₂ = 1.3 x 10⁵ kg

Further explanation

A reaction coefficient is a number in the chemical formula of a substance involved in the reaction equation. The reaction coefficient is useful for equalizing reagents and products.

Reaction

2C₈H₁₈ + 25O₂⇒ 16CO₂ + 18H₂O

16 gallon = 60566,6 ml

• mass C₈H₁₈ :

$\tt mass=\rho\times V\\\\mass=0.7\times 60566.6=42396.62~g$

• mol C₈H₁₈ :

$\tt MW=114.232~g/mol\\\\mol=\dfrac{42396.62}{114.232}=371.145$

• mol CO₂ :

$\tt \dfrac{16}{2}\times 371.145=2969.159$

• mass CO₂ :

$\tt =2969.159\times 44(MW~CO_2)=130642.996~g=1.3\times 10^5~kg$