Stoichiometry in Action: Not Enough Oxygen When Burning Octane

• The balanced equation shows that 2 moles of octane require 25 moles of oxygen to burn completely:

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

• In the case of octane, a shortage of O2 causes side reactions that result in pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone.
• The 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act required oil companies to put additives in gasoline that increased its oxygen content.