Gasoline is a mixture of hydrocarbons of various chain lengths, ranging from 5-c

Question

Gasoline is a mixture of hydrocarbons of various chain lengths, ranging from 5-carbon chains to 10-carbon chains. One of the hydrocarbons we often hear about is the 8-carbon chain, octane. Octane combusts with oxygen as given by the balanced equation:

2C8H18(g) + 25O2(g) ? 16CO2(g) + 18H2O(g)

Recall that you cannot infer the reaction pathway from the balanced equation. It must be derived experimentally. Yet upon reading this balanced equation, it appears unlikely that the combustion of octane occurs in a single step. Why?

   

Gasoline is a mixture of hydrocarbons of various chain lengths, ranging from 5-carbon chains to 10-carbon chains. One of the hydrocarbons we often hear about is the 8-carbon chain, octane. Octane combusts with oxygen as given by the balanced equation:

2C8H18(g) + 25O2(g) ? 16CO2(g) + 18H2O(g)

Recall that you cannot infer the reaction pathway from the balanced equation. It must be derived experimentally. Yet upon reading this balanced equation, it appears unlikely that the combustion of octane occurs in a single step. Why?

A. A catalyst must be present. B. Combustion of part of the molecule is necessary to increase the reaction temperature. C. There are many other components in gasoline that affect the reaction rate. D. It would require the simultaneous collision of 27 molecules.

Explanation / Answer

D. It would require the simultaneous collision of 27 molecules

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