Calculate the weight and volume of air required for the combustion of 3 kg of carbon.
Combustion reaction
C \quad + \quad O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 \\12 kg \quad 32 kgWeight of oxygen required to burn 12 kg C = 32 kg
Weight of oxygen required to burn 3 kg C =\frac{32}{12} × 3 = 8 ~kg
As, air contains 23% oxygen by weight
Therefore, weight of air required = 8 × \frac{100}{23}= 34.783 ~kg = 34783 ~g
Volume of air required
as, 1 mole of any gas at STP occupies 22.4 L
Therefore, volume occupied by 1 mole air = 28.94 g air = 22.4 L
(molecular weight of air = 28.94 g)
\begin{aligned}\text{Volume occupied by 34783 g of air}= & \frac{22.4}{28.94} × 34783\\ \\= & 26.92 × 10^3 ~L = 26.92 m^3\\ & (\text{Since} 1 ~L = 10^3 ~m^3)\end{aligned}