Question

Based on the data in the table below, comparing the energy values per mole, per gram, and per liter of each fuel, choose the best answer for the following questions.

Type of Fuel	Ethanol	Octane
Energy produced per mole of fuel (kcal/mol)	295.3	1213
Energy produced per gram of fuel (kcal/g)	6.410	10.61
Energy produced per liter of fuel (kcal/L)	5.04×103	7.41×103 Assuming the same price per liter of each fuel, to travel the same distance (i.e., to produce the same amount of energy), using which fuel will cost you less? Which fuel provides less energy per mole? Which fuel provides less energy per gram? Assuming the same price per liter of each fuel, a tank of which fuel will propel your car further? Which produces more energy for a given volume (something useful to know when filling your gas tank)?

Answer 1

Assuming the same price per liter of each fuel, to travel the same distance (i.e., to produce the same amount of energy), using which fuel will cost you less?

If price is the same per volume then

Choose octane since ethanol has = 5.04×10³ and octane has 7.41×10³

Which fuel provides less energy per mole?

ethanol produces less energy per unit mol; 295.3 vs 1213

Which fuel provides less energy per gram?

ethanol, since it produces 6.410 vs. 10.61 of octane

Assuming the same price per liter of each fuel, a tank of which fuel will propel your car further?

Octane, since it has more density energy... i.e. same volume will give more energy

Which produces more energy for a given volume (something useful to know when filling your gas tank)?

Octane, as stated previously