Air/fuel ratio question ( again)

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The discussion centers on calculating air/fuel ratios from a combustion chemical equation involving hexane (C6H18). The user successfully determines the gravimetric air/fuel ratio but struggles with the volumetric ratio and the equivalence ratio. Key insights include that the molar air/fuel ratio is equivalent to the volumetric ratio due to the ideal gas law. The user also identifies a contradiction in the coefficients derived from carbon and hydrogen, indicating a potential flaw in the provided equation.

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morry
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air/fuel ratio question (urgent again)

Ok, I have an exam on monday and both my lecturers and tutor have gone walkabouts. So you guys are my last resort. Thanks. :)
I get given a combustion chemical equation.
Looks like this : aC6H18 + bO2 + 3.76bN2 --> 9.5CO + 9.5CO2 + 9.5H2O + 71.5N2
I solve for the coefficients.

I can find the gravimetric a/f ratio, but I have no idea what to do to find the volumetric a/f ratio.

Also, for the equivalence ratio, I have the actual ratio, so to find the stoich. ratio, do I just have to rewrite the equation so it looks like --> xCO2 + yH2O +zN2??

Thanks again guys.
 
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morry said:
Ok, I have an exam on monday and both my lecturers and tutor have gone walkabouts. So you guys are my last resort. Thanks. :)
I get given a combustion chemical equation.
Looks like this : aC6H18 + bO2 + 3.76bN2 --> 9.5CO + 9.5CO2 + 9.5H2O + 71.5N2
I solve for the coefficients.
Looks like there's an error in the equation. For instance, solving for 'a' from Carbon gives 6a = 19, but solving from Hydrogen gives 18a = 19. This is clearly a contradiction. So, the given equation appears to be flawed...or is there something I'm missing ?

I can find the gravimetric a/f ratio, but I have no idea what to do to find the volumetric a/f ratio.
Assuming you can correctly find a and b, you can calculate the molar a/f ratio (using the fact that 1 mole of O2 is found in about 4.76 moles of air). The molar ratio is the same as the volumetric ratio, because a mole of any gas occupies the same volume under the same conditions (temperature, pressure). Finding the gravimetric ratio requires multiplying by molar masses (molecular weights).
Also, for the equivalence ratio...
How is the equivalence ratio defined ?
 
Im not sure if that equation is right, I am pretty sure, but not 100%.

I understand the vol. ratio now. Thanks :)

As for the equivalence ratio, its defined as actual ratio/stoich ratio.

But don't worry about trying to explain everything to me, I had the exam this morning, I think it went well. :)

Thanks for the help Gokul!
 

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