Carbon dioxide, which is recognized as the major contributor to global warming a

Question

Carbon dioxide, which is recognized as the major contributor to global warming as a "greenhouse gas," is formed when fossil fuels are combusted, as in electrical power plants fueled by coal, oil, or natural gas. One potential way to reduce the amount of CO2 added to the atmosphere is to store it as a compressed gas in underground formations. Consider a 1000-megawatt coal-fired power plant that produces about 6 x10^6 tons of CO2 per year.

part A: Assuming ideal gas behavior, 1.00 atm, and 27 C, calculate the volume of CO2 produced by this power plant. Express your answer using one significant figure.

part B: If the CO2 is stored underground as a liquid at 10 C and 120 atm and a density of 1.2 g/cm3, what volume does it possess? Express your answer using one significant figure.

Explanation / Answer

A)

given

mass of C02 produced = 6 x 10^6 tons

now

we know that

1 ton = 907.185 kg

also

1 kg = 1000 g

so

1 ton = 907185 g

so

mass of C02 produced = 6 x 10^6 x 907185 g

mass of C02 produced = 5.44311 x 10^12 g

now

we know that

moles = mass / molar mass

molar mass of C02 = 44 g /mol

so

moles of C02 produced = 5.44311 x 10^12 / 44

moles of C02 produced = 1.23707 x 10^11

now

according to ideal gas equation

PV = nRT

V = nRT/P

given

temperature (T) = 27 C = 27 + 273 = 300 K

Pressure (P) = 1 atm

R = 0.0821 L atm / mol K

so

V = 1.23707 x 10^11 x 0.0821 x 300 / 1

V = 3.046 x 10^12 L

so

the volume of C02 produced is 3 x 10^12 liters

B)

now

C02 is stored as a liquid

for liquids

volume = mass / density

given

density = 1.2 g / cm2

so

volume of C02 = 5.44311 x 10^12 / 1.2

volume of C02 = 4.535925 x 10^12 cm3

we know that

1 cm3 = 10-3 L

so

volume of C02 = 4.535925 x 10^12 x 10-3 L

volume of C02 = 4.536 x 10^9 L

so

the volume possesed by C02 is 4.536 x 10^9 liters

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