Combustion

• C_XH_Y + O₂ \to CO₂ + H₂O + Heat Energy

The atomic mass of carbon is 12 AMU. The atomic mass of oxygen is 16 AMU. So the mass of a carbon dioxide molecule is 12 + 16 x 2 = 44. This leads to our proportion or conversion factor that says 12 kg of carbon becomes 44 kg of carbon dioxide.

Real combustion

• The atmosphere is not purely oxygen, it also has nitrogen and other elements
• Fossil fuels are not pure carbon and hydrogen, they contain impurities like sulfur and mercury
• When all these chemicals participate in combustion, they produce sulfur oxides (SO_X), nitrous oxides (NO_X), and other chemicals
• These chemicals are the cause of acid rain and other environmental effects

Green House Gases

Carbon dioxide, the gas resulting from combustion, is the main component of global warming.