Amount of moles emitted by burning oil

[Donna14]

Homework Statement

Calculate the number of moles of CO2 that are emitted into the atmosphere per year due to the total energy consumption on Earth (16TW). Note: 1kg oil yields 42MJ and for oil C ' 1:2.

I don't know how to calculate how many grams/moles of CO2 are emitted by burning 1kg of the oil

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

- 1 mole CO2 is 44g

- I calculated that 1,22x10^13 kg oil is needed to cover the 16TW

 

[Chestermiller]

The problem approximates the formula for oil as a chain of CH2s. Each CH2 reacts with O2 to produce H2O and CO2. Can you write a balanced reaction equation for the reaction of each CH2 group with O2?

 

[Borek]

Or, from a slightly different (but yielding the same answer) angle: if the experimental formula is CH₂, how many grams of C and how many grams of H in 1 kg of the substance?

 

[Donna14]

Thank you so much for your input!

Let's check if I understand it better now:

2CH₂+ 3O₂ gives 2H₂O + 2CO₂

So 2 mol oil gives 2 mol CO₂

1 mol oil weights 14g
1 mol CO₂ weights 44g
1.22 x 10¹³ kg oil/ 14 x 10^-3 = 871x10⁶mol oil
Which equals the amount of moles CO₂

Is this correct?

 

[Borek]

Chemistry looks OK to me, but on the second read I am not sure how to understand

due to the total energy consumption on Earth (16TW)

16TW is not energy consumption, it is power required. I see you assumed it is intended to mean "average power required throughout the year" - looks OK to me, still, question could be worded better.