carbon emissions

[MrCurious]

There is much talk about carbon emissions, e.g. power station releases many tons per year . If carbon emissions float away from the chimmney and are lighter than air . How are these emissions weighed?

[Robb Phoenix]

They are pre-estimated,
We know how much carbon dioxide can be produced in a reaction.

[beso]

One atom of carbon (the main component of coal) burns with one molecule of oxygen (two atoms) making one molecule of carbon dioxide.

Essentially the atomic weight of carbon is 12 and for oxygen it is 16. Molecular weight of carbon dioxide is 12+(2x16)=44. Therefore 12 tonnes of coal produces 44 tonnnes of CO2. A power station releases millions of tonnes of CO2 in its life.

Incidentally CO2 is actually heavier than air.

Many people also do not realise that the emmissions stay in the atmosphere more or less indefinitely. Most of the CO2 from coal burnt in 1800 is still in the atmosphere today. You cannot see it but it is there warming the planet every day.

[MrCurious]

What i am trying to find out is how you weigh these emissions . It may work out on paper with equations,but how can you have a tonne of gas if it dosnt weigh anything. Also how can you burn 12 tonnes of coal and produce 44 tonnes of emissions

[gen2]

See your repeat question here:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Science/Questio n555005.html