What is the composition of a fuel on a dry and mass basis?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the composition of a fuel on both a dry and mass basis, given its molar composition. The participants share methods for converting mole percentages to mass percentages, emphasizing the need to account for the molecular weights of each component. One user suggests simplifying calculations by assuming a total of one mole for easier mass conversions. The correct mass percentage for methane is identified as 24.3% w/w, and users confirm their understanding of the calculations. The thread concludes with participants successfully obtaining the correct answers for the fuel's composition.
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Homework Statement



A fuel has the following composition on a molar basis: 40.0% CH4,
24.0% C2H4, 16% C3H8, 10% CO2, 10% H2O. What is the composition of the fuel on a dry
basis? What is the composition of the fuel on a mass basis? What is the average molecular
weight of the fuel? [Relative atomic masses: O = 16, C = 12, H = 1]

I worked out the compistion on a dry basis

CH_{4} = \frac{40}{90} \times 100 = 44.44\% and than the same for each one, excluding water.

How do I work out the composition of the fuel on a mass basis?
 
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Presumably you will also have to take into account the composition of each component, so for instance methane is RAM(C)/[RAM(C)+4.RAM(H)] x 100% carbon...
 
sjb-2812 said:
Presumably you will also have to take into account the composition of each component, so for instance methane is RAM(C)/[RAM(C)+4.RAM(H)] x 100% carbon...

do you mean, = 12/(12+4) = 0.75 75%?

the correct answer for methane is 24.3% w/w , I don't know how to get this.
 
% w/w. that means you have to convert all moles to masses.

To make calculations simpler you can assume 1% is just 1 mole, then calculate total mass of each, total mass of mixture and so on.
 
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It can be done this way as well, just instead of assuming 1% is 1 mole you assumed 100% is one mole. This is still correct, as long as you will be consistent.
 
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Borek said:
It can be done this way as well, just instead of assuming 1% is 1 mole you assumed 100% is one mole. This is still correct, as long as you will be consistent.
okay, thanks got the correct answers now.
 
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