Question

Leaded gasoline contains lead that ends up in the engine exhaust. Lead is a very toxic engine emission. The use of leaded gasoline in the United States has been unlawful for most vehicles since the 1980 s. However, leaded gasoline is still used in some parts of the world. Consider a city with 70,000 cars using leaded gasoline. The gasoline contains \(0.15 \mathrm{g} / \mathrm{L}\) of lead and 50 percent of lead is exhausted to the environment. Assuming that an average car travels \(15,000 \mathrm{km}\) per year with a gasoline consumption of \(8.5 \mathrm{L} / 100 \mathrm{km},\) deter mine the amount of lead put into the atmosphere per year in that city.

Short answer

Answer: To calculate the amount of lead put into the atmosphere per year, follow these steps: 1. Calculate the total gasoline consumption using the formula: Total gasoline consumption = number of cars * average car distance per year * gasoline consumption per 100 km Total gasoline consumption = \(70,000 * 15,000 * (\frac{8.5}{100})\mathrm{L}\) 2. Calculate the total lead present in the consumed gasoline: Total lead present = total gasoline consumption * lead content in gasoline per liter Total lead present = total gasoline consumption * 0.15 g/L 3. Calculate the amount of lead exhausted to the environment: Lead exhausted per year = total lead present * percentage of lead exhausted Lead exhausted per year = total lead present * 0.5 Use the values calculated in each step to find the amount of lead put into the atmosphere per year in that city.

Step-by-step solution

Calculate total gasoline consumption

To calculate the total gasoline consumed, we will use the formula: Total gasoline consumption = number of cars * average car distance per year * gasoline consumption per 100 km Here, we have 70,000 cars, each traveling an average of 15,000 km per year with a gasoline consumption of 8.5 L per 100 km. So, Total gasoline consumption = \(70,000 * 15,000 * (\frac{8.5}{100})\mathrm{L}\)

Calculate total lead present in consumed gasoline

Now, let's calculate the total lead present in the consumed gasoline using the given lead content in gasoline: Total lead present = total gasoline consumption * lead content in gasoline per liter Here, the lead content is 0.15 g/L. We will use the total gasoline consumption calculated in Step 1. So, Total lead present = total gasoline consumption * 0.15 g/L

Calculate the amount of lead exhausted to the environment

As 50 percent of the lead in the gasoline is exhausted to the environment, we will calculate the lead exhausted using this percentage: Lead exhausted per year = total lead present * percentage of lead exhausted Here, the percentage of lead exhausted is 50%, which is equal to 0.5. We will use the total lead present calculated in Step 2. So, Lead exhausted per year = total lead present * 0.5 Now, we can put the values calculated in the previous steps into these equations to find the amount of lead put into the atmosphere per year in that city.

Key concepts

Toxic Engine Emissions

Lead is a particularly dangerous component of engine exhaust, as it can have severe effects on human health, including brain damage and developmental problems in children. Leaded gasoline was once used to enhance octane levels and reduce engine knocking, but due to its toxic nature, unleaded gasoline has replaced leaded gasoline in most countries.

Despite the ban, some regions around the world continue to use leaded gasoline, leading to toxic engine emissions. When an engine burns leaded gasoline, lead is released into the air, contributing to air pollution. This poses a threat not only to human health but also to the environment, as lead can accumulate in soil and waterways, affecting plants and wildlife.

The process of phasing out leaded gasoline began in the United States in the 1970s and by the 1980s, it was largely complete. This transition has resulted in a significant reduction in atmospheric lead levels and health benefits for the population. Regulations and public awareness campaigns have played a crucial role in minimizing toxic engine emissions from lead.

Gasoline Consumption Calculation

Calculating gasoline consumption is essential for understanding a vehicle's fuel efficiency and its environmental impact. The formula provided in the exercise is a practical way to estimate the total gasoline consumption for a fleet of vehicles over a specific period.

The equation Total gasoline consumption = number of cars × average distance per car per year × gasoline consumption per unit distance provides a comprehensive picture of the overall fuel usage by multiplying the number of vehicles by the average distance each travels annually and the average fuel consumption per distance unit.

By identifying fuel consumption patterns, strategies can be developed for reducing fuel use and emissions. Advancements in technology have led to more fuel-efficient vehicles, and alternative fuels such as electricity and hydrogen are gaining attention, all contributing to lower gasoline consumption and reduced environmental impact.

Atmospheric Pollution Quantification

Quantifying atmospheric pollution is a complex task that involves measuring the concentration of various pollutants in the air. This typically includes gases, particulate matter, heavy metals like lead, and other toxic substances.

For this exercise, focus is placed on quantifying the amount of lead emitted into the atmosphere. In order to calculate this, first determine the total lead content in the consumed gasoline. This is done by multiplying the total fuel consumed by the given lead concentration per unit of fuel.

As only a portion of the lead in gasoline is emitted into the atmosphere, the final step involves multiplying this total by the fraction that is released through engine emissions. Tools such as emissions inventories and air quality monitoring stations are employed in reality to assess atmospheric pollution, allowing for more accurate and comprehensive measurements that inform regulatory measures and public health interventions.