The source of oxygen that drives the internal combustionengine in an automobile is air. Air is a mixture of gases, principallyN21∼79%2 and O21∼20%2. In the cylinder of an automobileengine, nitrogen can react with oxygen to producenitric oxide gas, NO. As NO is emitted from the tailpipe ofthe car, it can react with more oxygen to produce nitrogendioxide gas. (a) Write balanced chemical equations for bothreactions. (b) Both nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide are pollutantsthat can lead to acid rain and global warming; collectively,they are called “NOx” gases. In 2009, the United Statesemitted an estimated 19 million tons of nitrogen dioxideinto the atmosphere. How many grams of nitrogen dioxide isthis? (c) The production of NOx gases is an unwanted side reactionof the main engine combustion process that turns octane,C8H18, into CO2 and water. If 85% of the oxygen in an engine isused to combust octane and the remainder used to produce nitrogendioxide, calculate how many grams of nitrogen dioxidewould be produced during the combustion of 500 g of octane.
The source of oxygen that drives the internal combustion
engine in an automobile is air. Air is a mixture of gases, principally
N21∼79%2 and O21∼20%2. In the cylinder of an automobile
engine, nitrogen can react with oxygen to produce
nitric oxide gas, NO. As NO is emitted from the tailpipe of
the car, it can react with more oxygen to produce nitrogen
dioxide gas. (a) Write balanced chemical equations for both
reactions. (b) Both nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide are pollutants
that can lead to acid rain and global warming; collectively,
they are called “NOx” gases. In 2009, the United States
emitted an estimated 19 million tons of nitrogen dioxide
into the atmosphere. How many grams of nitrogen dioxide is
this? (c) The production of NOx gases is an unwanted side reaction
of the main engine combustion process that turns octane,
C8H18, into CO2 and water. If 85% of the oxygen in an engine is
used to combust octane and the remainder used to produce nitrogen
dioxide, calculate how many grams of nitrogen dioxide
would be produced during the combustion of 500 g of octane.
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