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production of C02.

6 January, 2010 - 22:24 — Anonymous

I do not understand how burning a litre of diesel (weight < 1kg) in a car can produce Energy and 2.3 kg of C02! this appears to be something for nothing!!!

Thanks

Stewart

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7 January, 2010 - 10:29 — juerg

How is CO2 produced with burning diesel

The extra mass is taken from the oxygen (O2) in our atmosphere. Burning fuels like e.g. diesel is a chemical reaction of diesel with oxygen (O2) which releases energy and creates carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The oxygen is mostly taken from the air (combustion air).

Diesel + Oxygen --> Energy + CO2 + H2O

This specific reaction is also called oxidation (oxi from oxygen). From the total weight of CO2, only 27% is carbon (which is taken from diesel) and the remaining 63% of the weight is from oxygen (which is mostly taken from the air). This does explain how burning of 1 kg of petrol can generate 3.1 kg of carbon dioxide.

Juerg

7 January, 2010 - 11:44 — Anonymous

C02 production

Thank you so much, I was thinking it may be from other inputs.

So if the contents of C02 only 27% is Carbon (Wasted) do we need to worry about the 63% which is oxygen, which has just changed structure?

My concern is the numbers are we exaggerating the problem?

Stewart

7 January, 2010 - 17:31 — juerg

CO2 as a compound is a greenhouse gas

CO2 is a compound and this compound as a whole (100%) is a greenhouse gas. And the extra greenhouse gases human beings produce is a major cause of global warming.

To answer your question: We have to worry about 100% CO2, not just about the carbon content of CO2.

Juerg