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Chapter 9: Problem 20

Under what conditions will exhaust from a car's engine contain high levels of carbon monoxide?

Short Answer

Expert verified
A car's engine will produce high levels of carbon monoxide when it is running under conditions of incomplete combustion. This includes when the engine temperature is high, when there's more fuel than oxygen in the air-fuel mixture, poor engine ventilation, faulty exhaust system or when the car is idle for long periods.

Step by step solution

01

Define Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and poisonous gas, known for causing harm to humans when present in high concentrations. It is a byproduct of combustion, particularly incomplete combustion.
02

Identify combustion in engines

In a car's engine, fuel (usually gasoline or diesel) is combusted in an engine to produce kinetic energy. This energy is used to power the car. The combustion reaction of the hydrocarbon fuel uses oxygen and produces carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and sometimes unburnt fuel and carbon monoxide.
03

List the conditions that lead to high levels of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide is particularly produced under conditions of insufficient oxygen supply or incomplete combustion. This can include: 1. The engine running at a high temperature. 2. The air-fuel mixture being to rich in fuel (meaning there's more fuel than oxygen available for combustion). 3. When the engine is not properly ventilated or when exhaust system components, like the catalytic converter, are not functioning properly. 4. When the car is idling (i.e., when the vehicle is running but not moving, often when waiting at a stop light or stuck in traffic) for long periods of time.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Define stoichiometry.

If 156 \(\mathrm{g}\) of sodium nitrate react, and 112 \(\mathrm{g}\) of sodium nitrite are recovered, what is the percentage yield? $$2 \mathrm{NaNO}_{3}(s) \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{NaNO}_{2}(s)+\mathrm{O}_{2}(g)$$

Why is the ratio of fuel to air in a car's engine important in controlling pollution?

In the reaction shown below, 64 \(\mathrm{g} \mathrm{CaC}_{2}\) is reacted with 64 \(\mathrm{g} \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} .\) $$\mathrm{CaC}_{2}(s)+2 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) \rightarrow \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{2}(g)+\mathrm{Ca}(\mathrm{OH})_{2}(s)$$ \begin{equation}\begin{array}{l}{\text { a. Which is the excess reactant, and which is }} \\ {\text { the limiting reactant? }} \\ {\text { b. What is the theoretical yield of } C_{2} \mathrm{H}_{2} ?} \\ {\text { c. What is the theoretical yield of } \mathrm{Ca}(\mathrm{OH})_{2} ?}\end{array}\end{equation}

Why is the term limiting used to describe the limiting reactant?
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