Staying Warm in the Winter
Activity 1 :Key

Natural Gas *

One molecule of methane plus two molecules of oxygen will burn to produce two molecules of water, one molecule of carbon dioxide, and heat.


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Molecular equation

Word Equation

Mass equation


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  1. Using the graph provided, determine the mass of carbon dioxide formed when you use

    1. 500 m3 of natural gas.
      Answer: approximately 1250 kg of CO2.

    2. 100 m3 of natural gas.
      Answer: approximately 250 kg of CO2.

    3. 1500 m3 of natural gas.
      Answer: approximately 3700 kg of CO2.

  2. A typical home will use as much as 14 000 m3 of gas for heating and hot water per year. What mass of CO2 is produced?
    Answer: approximately 35 000 kg of CO2.

  3. Acquire a gas bill. Examine the bill and determine the amount of gas used. How much CO2 is produced during the billing period?
    *Answer: various answers, typically 3 000 m3 of gas produces 7500kg of carbon dioxide.
*Note: Not everyone is willing to share their fuel billing information with others. It may be prudent to have a couple of "anonymous" billing samples available for student use.

* Footnote: Fossil fuels are a complex blend of hundreds of kinds of hydrocarbon molecules. The molecule in this example is one of the most abundant in the fuel being described, and as such, represents a good approximation of the entire combustion process

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