Using the Relationship between Vehicle Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions To Illustrate Chemical Principles

This instructional resource utilizes consumer product information by which students compare theoretical stoichiometric calculations to CO2 car emissions and fuel consumption data. Representing graphically the emission of CO2 versus consumption of fuel provides a tangible way of connecting concepts studied in chemistry classes to everyday life. Considerable simplification of an otherwise complex chemistry problem provides comparable theoretical and actual data. Practice with unit conversion and graphing enhance this activity promoting skills used by professionals to perform emission measurements. This activity may be used to bring awareness of car emissions issues such as the environmental impact of CO2 emissions and the differences of hybrid engines or gasoline versus diesel engines. Scientific literacy can be approached by incorporating exercises such as this one into chemistry classroom activities. Students have expressed keen interest in this type of "tangible" chemistry where a concrete example of everyday life puts textbook chemistry in context.