Key Questions #7 Unit 2 Chemistry

Sandy- Alexander Mark Trenholm

2. Some vehicles use diesel fuel instead of gasoline. Use the internet to investigate the
properties of each of these fuels and the products of their combustion. Which fuel poses a
greater threat to the environment? Provide your results in the form of a one page research
paper. Be sure to include the properties, chemical formula, combustion reaction, and impact
on the environment for each fuel.

Source

Density (kg/
l)

Energy
Density (MJ/
l)

Auto-Ignition
Temperature
(Celsius)

Torque for a
10L engine

Diesel

0.85

38.6

210 1000 NM @
2000 rpm

Gasoline

0.72

34.6

246 300 NM @
4000 rpm

In the table above we can see a basic comparison between diesel and its counterpart,
gasoline. From the table one is able to tell that the fuel source contains more energy than
gasoline contains. One is also able to gather from the table that higher levels of torque can
be reached at lower rotations per minute (rpm) when a consumer opts for diesel over
gasoline. However those this make diesel better than gasoline? From an energy/torque
perspective, yes but from an environmental perspective the answer is absolutely not.
Now to be clear neither benefits the environment in a positive way nor does either one
help reduce green house gases or reduce global warming on the contrary they add to air
pollution and green house gases. However a lot of evidence can be displayed to show that
the burning of gasoline is a lot cleaner than the burning of diesel.

Diesel
Gasoline

Molecular
Formula

Combustion Formula

C12H23

4 C12H23 + 71 O2 -> 48 CO2 + 46 H2O

C2H18

2 C2H18 + 25 O2 -> 16 CO2 + 18 H2O

One can see in the table above that 48 molecules of the green house gas carbon dioxide
(CO2) are released through the combustion of diesel where as only 16 carbon dioxide
molecules are released in the combustion of gasoline. One is then able to come to the

conclusion that the combustion has a larger negative effect on our environment as to the
combustion of gasoline as more molecules of carbon dioxide (CO2) are released in the
combustion of diesel.
On a side note the burning of diesel also produces soot as well as more than 40 toxic air
contaminants one of which is sulfur dioxide (SO2). Evidence has shown that sulfur
dioxide can relate to berthing problems such as, chest tightness and shortness of breath. It
also is a major factor in creating acid rain which has many negative effects on our
environment and health. The burning of gasoline also releasees substances that contribute
to air pollution such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NO) but it does not
release soot nor the much worse sulfur oxide (SO2).
To conclude neither is beneficial to the environment or our healths and alternative
measures to not use either would be the ideal, but diesel fuel poses a greater threat to both
our environment and our health.