Content Reviewed: 08/17
AIG Reviewed: 6/17/12
Need Revisions (Y/N):NO
NCDPI -- AIG Instructional Resource: Background Information
Complete: Content-yes
Date Submitted: 5/19/12
Resource Title: How Can 1 Gallon of Gas Make all of that CO2?
Subject Area/Grade Level (s): Chemistry
Time Frame 50 minutes or for homework
Common Core/Essential Standard Addressed: Chm.2.2.4 Analyze the stoichiometric relationships inherent in a chemical reaction.
Content aligned.
Additional Standards Addressed: (Students may have already had Biology, Earth Science, or have plans to take AP Environmental Science, so
this is a nice connection to previous or future material.)
Bio.2.2.1 Infer how human activities (including population growth, pollution, global warming, burning of fossil fuels, habitat
destruction and introduction of nonnative species) may impact the environment.
EEn.2.6.3 Analyze the impacts that human activities have on global climate change (such as burning hydrocarbons, greenhouse effect,
and deforestation).
Brief Description of Lesson/Task/Activity:
As an extension of learning about stoichiometry, students will calculate the mass of carbon dioxide produced from a gallon of regular gasoline.
Type of Differentiation for AIGs (include all that apply)
X Enrichment
X Extension
 Acceleration
Adaptations for AIGs
X Content
 Process
X Product
Explanation of How Resource is Appropriate for AIGs
This assignment is appropriate for AIG students as it gives them the opportunity to explore how stoichiometry can be used in the field of
environmental science. Stoichiometry problems require a great deal of practice for students who are not labeled AIG (due to its abstract nature
and heavy math focus), and thus it can (depending on the group of students) take quite some time to practice these concepts. AIG students, for
the most part, find these concepts and calculations to be unchallenging, and they can become quite bored with repeated practice that they do
not need. This assignment gives these students the opportunity to explore a real world application of stoichiometry.
Needed Resources/Materials
Student handout, periodic table, and calculators should be available. Very few additional resources are required for this activity, although it
might useful for students to have access to the Internet for any further curiosity that these calculations might spark.
Sources (all sources must be cited)
Fisher Scientific MSDS information (for densities of isooctane and n-heptane)
TEACHER NOTES
See student handout and teacher key included.
NCDPI AIG Curriculum Resource Outline
Describe processes, steps, and materials needed at each stage of the lesson/activity.
STAGE ONE: Engage
X Hook
X Prior knowledge
 Instructional input
 Modeling
Description:
AIG students should receive instruction on types of chemical reactions (specifically combustion) and stoichiometry along with the other students
in the class.
Find out what students know about the connection between global climate change and carbon emissions. Share the following statement that is
commonly made in regards to carbon emissions: “One gallon of gasoline produces 20 lbs of carbon dioxide.” Discuss with students if there is a
way that they could determine if this statement is reasonable.
STAGE TWO: ELABORATE
X Guided and independent practice
X Guiding questions
Description:
Have students calculate the mass of CO2 that should be produced from regular gasoline (with a 87 octane rating). To make the calculations less
complicated, have students assume that the composition is 87% isooctane and 13% n-heptane by volume.
The instructor may decide how much information and guidance to give students. However, at a minimum, they will need the information above.
STAGE THREE: EVALUATE
X
Assessment
Description:
This is a less open-ended type of an assignment. The teacher should evaluate the accuracy of calculations.
TEACHER NOTES:
A teacher key has been provided to facilitate evaluation of calculation accuracy.